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9
'I
:] •■' >'c,C { : I ':'. '-t
THE
American ^Antiquarian
AND
[ Oriental Journal.
J OL. VllI—JANUAR r—NO VEMBBR, 1886.
Edited by Stephen D. Peet.
3 ♦
- I ■■r—
CHICAGO, ILL.
F. H. REVELU PUBLISHER.
1886.
\
^-0/
\J.:
1 ii
.^
O
2iii>;e2
• • •.! •
%
•••
% •
v»
Table of Contents.
CONTENTS OP VOL. VIII. NO. I.
Page.
Animax. P1GURE8 IN American Art— By Steplien D. Peet.— Illustrated, 1
Thb Study op the Nahuatl Language— By Daniel G. Brinton, M. D. 22
C0RRR8PONDENCB— Indian Byrials, By Q. Wm. Lillie( Pawnee Bill');
The National Museum, By O. T. Mason; The Smithsonian Institu-
tion, By O. T. Mason ; The Bureau of Ethnology. By Garrick Mallery ;
Monnd Explorations in 1885, under the Ethnological Bureau. By
Cjrrus Thomas '. 28
Thb Mcsktjm— Devoted to the interests of Collectors, edited by E. A.
Barber; Antiquity of the Umbrella; Minute Shell Beads; Collectors
and Collections; Rarities; The Indians of Puget Sound. Wash. Ter.,
By M. Eells; How the VVhullemooch Got Fire. By James Deans;
The Story of a Broken Stone, By Charles C^. Abbott; Recent Publica-
tions 37
Cditorial — Are the D.ivenport Tablets Frauds? Illustrated .... 46
X0TK8 ON European Archeology — By Henry Phillips, Jr. — Sacriflcial
Altars in Prussia; Cemetery of the Bronze Age in Scotland; Super-
Atitions^ about the S^a; Cavern in Poland; Tertiary Man; The
French Association: Brazilian Archeeology 56
Notes on American Ethnology— By D. G. Brmton, M. D. —Chilian
Folk Lore; Mexican Antiquities; Obscenity in American Art; The ^
Vatican Library; The Tatusa Grammar; The Toltecs; The Llama
in Ethnology; Study of the Maya Hieroglyphs 59
N0TB8 FROM THE Far East— By rrof. John Avery— Hill Tribes of
eastern India; The Location of the Tribes; The Community Divided ;
Men in Women's Clothes; Marriage Con tracts; Religion of the
Tribes 62
Ethkolooic Notes— By Albert S. Gat schet— Prince lioland Bonaparte
a review; Ten Kate's Explorations 66
LiiTBRART Notes 67
Book Reviews— Third Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology for
1881; Prehistoric Fishing in Europe and America. By Charles Rau;
Wonders of Sculpture By Louis Viardot; Rameses the Great, or
Kgypi 8800 Years Ago, By De Lanoye, Published by Chas. Scribner's
80D8 67
B00K8 Received — The Fetish, By A. Bastian; 'Ihc Papuans, By A.
Bastian 68
CONTENTS OF VOL. VilL NO. 2
Discoveries in the Mexican and Maya (Bodices— By Cynis Thomas. 69
Native American Pottery— By Edwin A. Barber. Illustrated. ... 76
Permanency of Iroquois Clans and Sachemships- By W. M.
Beauchamp 82
The Davenport Tablets Genuine— By W. H. Pratt 92
CoRRE«POSDENCE — Fraudulent Objects of Stone, By A. F. Berlin;
Letters on the same, from Rev. Mr. Qass and Mr. Stevens; Anim'il
Carvings, Imperfect Likenesses, W. H. Henshaw; Mounds in Mani-
toba, By Chas. N. Bell; The Di Cesnola Antiquities. By A. C.
Merriam; Bows and Arrows used in Fishing, Bv Ernest IngersoU, 97
The Museum — Devoted to the Interests of Collectors, edited by E. A.
Barber; Oorgets and Pendants: Collectors and Collections; Typical
Pipes in Various Collections; Notes; The Museum Exchange; How
the Mountain Sbeep Originated, By James Deans Ill
Editohial— The Point* inTolyed: A Compliment lo AruliEMloelsts . .
NoTEB ON EuROPBAK Arch^oloot— By Henrv Pbillljw. Jr. — The
Sixth CoQgresa of Russian ArcbsologiBt8:ExplorsIionBinlIieI«lan(l
of Bomholti); RuBsiHU Superstitioo ; Proceedio^ of the Vltnna
AntUropological Society
Notes on Amkrigan Ethsolooy— By D. G. Bnolon. M. D— Tribes of
ilie I'pper Pnraguay River: The Eskimo Dialect; The Colorados of
Eutiador; Recent Nahu&tlStuc]iea;Two InleresIiDgBibliographics;
Shell tleaps of CoalA Rica; Amber in American Arcliawjlogy; Elh'
nologv of the Tlinklt lodlaos; AmericaD Antiquiiies at the Troca-
dero; Preservation of Mexican AnLiquities
Arc[I.goi,ootcai. NOTFg — The Island of Uindrca — Talavot with High
Doorway at Torello; Megalilhtc Habitalion; Low Portal; lieniains
of a DofmeD and Circle; Altars at 8t, Augustln
Literary NoTKP--By thi> Editor in Chief— Crooked La:ids: A Homon
Villngc; Double I) laded Axes;LLuealMeasures; Biblical Archn^olosy;
The Court in Egypt; The Savior in Literature: Bun Images; The
Alphabet of the Savages; Stale Academy ol Science; The Llama
Temple; Ancient Linear Meaenres; Prehistoric Relics and Mounds;
StoDC Tubes: Arcbn'oloelcfli Han
Book Rkviewb— Colonial History of^New Jersey ;New York Academy of
Scletice; Heroes of Aacical Oreecc. By Ellen Palmer; St. Oeorge
and tliB Dragon. By Guanon ; The I^enape Stone, or the lodion and
Hie MammoHi. By H. C. Mercer; The Celt. The Roman and the
Saion, By Tbomat Wricht; Documentary Hislorv of the Slate of
Maine: Evolulinn and lieli^iioa. By Henry Wanl'Bcccher; Natural
Theolog)', or Rational Theism. By M. Valentine; Damaacus and Be-
yond the Jordan. By Wni, M. Tbumson
Pamphlets IlRritiVKnl . .
CONTENTS OF VOL. VIII. Nu 3.
HOMAN Faces in Aborioinat. Art— By Siepheu D, Pcet llliistrnted
EXPI.ORATIDN OF AtTAREKT RECEST MOINDS IN DAKOTA— By W.
McAdaros. Illusiratwl
Bbginniko o*' Whitiso in and Around Tibet— By Prof. John ATpry
CoRHEapoNDKNCii: — Mouod ExcavstioQ in Tennessee, By Cyrus Thomas;
The Leirend of Chicameca's Head, By H. 8. Halberl; Kchcs of
Eastern Oreeon, By M. Eells; Mound Relics of Oregon, By G. M
Powers; Ancient Fire Places on the Ohio, By T H. Lewis; The
Siin Dance among the Blaekfeet, ByG. E Laidlaw; Ytcsack.or the
Hat, By James Deuna
Tub MuBEiiM- Devoted to thelnteresls of Collectors, Edlletl By ¥L. A,
Barber; Collectora and Colleciions; Notes on Societies; Two Stone
Relies of unusual form. By A. F. Berlin; Intere^tlnc Relics, bone
Ceirated by an arrow bead, By J. B. Nail : Bronzo'Plnte of Cbar-
Bgne found near Ann Arbor, By F. C. Clarke: Coinage, By
Chas. E. Fewster- illustialed
EDrroRiAi. — Primary Division and Geographical Dlatrjbutlon of Man-
kind, Illuslraied
Bibliography— Arch teological : Educational; M'scellaneous .....
NoTtSFRoM TRF, Fab E.vst- By Prof, John Avery— Authorities on
Ihe AlKiriginal Trlbea in and around India; General Works^ Tribes
of the Northern Border; TribesofNortheaslern India; Tribes of the
Eastern Border; Tribes of Central India; Tribes of Soiitliem India;
Trilies ot Adjacent Islaniis.
LiNOL'iBTic NoTEH— By AHieri M. Gatacliet — Blockfoot Tribes and Lan
guago; Ancient Languaf^e of Florida; AeIcc LanguaKe; Mexico;
Colombian States; Kopgabs; Polynesia; Law Cuoc of the Kretan
Oortyna: The Principle of Aaa1ogv;The Translation ot the Maha-
Bharata
Ethnoorapmic Notks— By Albert 8, Gatschet^Petroff's Alaska; Stoll'a
Gautemala; Tuscarora
Notes oh Clabbic A ho h«o loot— Pottery from Naucraiis: The Ilom-
rrir Theory, A I.etier from Aqullla: Sallust's Birthplace
LtTERABT Notes— Bf the Bditor-m-Chfef— Inscriptiaua la Arisnnft;
Mounds in Kentucky and Southern Ohio; Emblematic Mouoda in
Minnesota; The Bgyptian Origin of our AlphalKt; Tbe Egyptian
Exploration Fund; Origin of tLe Zodiac: Bibliography of America;
What iB the Mother City of the Uuited Slates of America
Book Revibwb— Four Cenluriiat of Silence, R A. Redtord— Pnradisii
Found, By Rev. Wni. F. Warren; Egypt and Babylon from HacreU
and Profane Sources, By Rev. George ItawlinBon ; Studies in Ureek
Tbouifht, By Prof. R. Packard; Lives of Greek Statesmen. By Sir
Geo. W. Coi; The Book of Daniel By Rev. JamesG. Murphy ;' Wit-
ness from the Dust, By Rev. J. N . Fradenlmrg ; Oullinus of Univer-
sal History. By Prof. George Park Fisher
CONTENTS OP VOL VIII- NO, 4.
Illuatmteil. 107
CoKHEBPOKDBNCB — Fraudulent Stone Objects and the Qass Correspond
ence. By A. F. Berlin; Pre Adamite Fool-Prints. By Earl Fiinl
I
Barber; A Toiemic Axe or Ceremonial Implemeni; Colli-ctors and
Collections; Notes on Arch^lngiCHl Booba, Relies in South L'liroli-
ns. ByJoha HawlilDs; Mexican Relics, a cnUogue, By W. W.
BUke
Editor I Ai/— The Interpretation of Pictographs illustrBied ; The Sfrpeot
Bfflay in Wisconsin
NoTsa ON European ARCH.«olDgy — By Henry Phillips. .Ir — Stone
Crocodile In Dalmatia; Ring Money in Hungary: Jade Axu In
Maebren; Runes with Variants; Cave Dwclleis In Saxony
NoTBBON Ajikrican ETHNOLOav— Bj D. G, Brinlon, M. D. — Ethnology
of Venezuela; Tribes of Equatorial Brazil; Hunting and Fishing
Implemen's of the Fucgians; Gold Imitgcs of Chiriqul The E;ist
Qreenlaod Eskimos; Artiflcial Deformiilcsof the Cramitm in Ameri-
ca; Palteolitbic Pottery; Cup-Shaped 8lone8;Tlie Sludv ofMnrKs;
American Sirfiiety in Berlin
HOTBs FBOM THE Fab East— By Prof. .lohn Aver)'— A nam esc Ancea.
tral Worship; The Aborigines of Formosa; The Melancsian Lnn-
guanea
LiTRRAHf akoArch^olooical Notes— By i he Edilorin-Chitf — An
Important Find; Mounds and Pipes; Ancifnl Pottery of tlin Hiss-
isdppi Valley; The Blood Covenant; The Hare <a EeypI : Serpent
Worsliip in Africa
BooKRKvrewa— GautemHla, By Dr. Otto Stoll; Proceedings of the Am.
Philosophical Society for 1866; From Avcadia loMacpelab. Br Rev.
J. M. Thompson: Elephant Plpea and Inscrlbeil Tabids. By Chiis.
E, Putnam
Mew PuFLirATioNB , ,
CONTENTS OF VOL. VIII. NO. 5.
Tbe Testilb Art imPrehibtobic Abch^kologv— By W. H, Holmes.
Illustrated •
Thr Tibkto Burman OlUiVr of Lanocaggb — By John Avery ....
Ascibbt Encijmurks is the Miami Vau.kt— By S. H. Blnkley,
Illustrated
Thb ArACBE-TrMAB and Apache ■ Mo javes— By Wm. P. Corbusicr.
ItluHlrated. First paper,
COBREBpoHDEHCE — Dhegihn Language and Mylhs, By J. Owen Dor»cy ;
Motlier-Hlgbt in South Carolina. By John Hiiwkins; America and
AlUntis. By W. S. Lach Ssiyrma; The Red- Wing Elephant. By T.
H Lewis ,
The Ml* a bum— Devoted to the interests of CoUccIoib. edited by E. A.
Barber; Stone Disks in New York: Relicn Made fiom Volcanio
Rocks, By Jerome Wiltse; Pestles and Banner. Stones, By S. II,
Binkley ; Old Wedgwood. By Frederick Rathbone, Uluatntied ; SUme
Paddle and C<^per Spade in Wigconrin, By T. H. Lewis; The Port
near Gkanfille, O., By Warren K. Moorhead; Moonda and Bdics
in Utah, By Wm. gfellers; Skeleton from Moond in Wisoooatn;
Tablet from Ohio. By Wm. Taylor; Potte^ Vessels in Glenwood.
Iowa, By S. V. Proudfit; Remarimbly Shaped Pipes; Relics in
PennsyWasia, By Eugene Sharadin; Missouri and KentucSn^ Mound
Potteiy. By O. W. Morse; Double- Barbed Arrow-Points, By J. R.
Nissley; Copper Beads 290
Editorial — Among the Librarians; Extra-LimitalAnimals and Mound
Builders Pipes, Illustrated . - 302
LiTEKAKT Notes — By the Editor-in-Chief. — ^The American Aaaoci-
ation; The Smithsonian Annual Reports; Traditions of the Aborigi-
nes of America; Ancient Coins in Wisconsin; Babylonian Seal Cyl-
inders ; Copp«!r Coins of Akbar ; Symbolism on Scythian Coins ; Three-
headed or Kour headed Images: Man or Monkey; Descent of Man;
Antiquity of Man; Wmged Circles;; Cephalic Index; Proceedings
of the A, A . A. S. ; Discovery at Gulval. Cornwall England . . . 814
Notes Prom the Far East — By Prof. John Avery— The Aborigines of
the Nicobsm; Some Pnmitive Tribes in Southwestern Asia . . . 818
Ethnologic Notes — By Albert S. Oatschet — New Ethnographic Maga-
zine; Autumnal Trip to Transylvania, By Dr. W. Lanser. . . . 320
Book Heviewh — Transsctions of the Wisconsin Academy of Science;
Proceedings of the An). Philosopb. Soc. ; An Account of Silver Coins,
etc.. By Kev. E. llavden; The Kingdom of Christ, By Samuel
Harris. I). D.; Thr Life of Clirisr. By C. J. EUicotr, D. D.. The
Prophecy of Clirist, By Wm. L. Kenneciy, Scripture Doctrine of
Christ, By J. A. Ileupelt. D. D 828
CONTENTS OF VOL. VIII. NO. 6.
The Apacue-Yumah and Apache-Mojaves— By Wm. M. Corbusier,
Illustnited — Second Paper 325
The Tiiieto-Burman Groi'p of Languages— By John Avery, Second
paper 839
The Graphic System of the Mayas— By D. G. Brinton, M. D.. Illus. 347
Origin and Antiquity of the Iroquois— By Rev. W. M. Beauchamp. 35S
The Dhegiha Language II— By J. Owen Dorsey 366
The MiTSEUM— Devoted to tlie interest of Collectors, edited by E. A.
Barl)er— Plolonraic Tetradrncbms, by J. D. Butler; Mounds on the
lied liiver of the North, by T. H. Lewis; Pi pes among the Pueblos;
Indian Gun-flint; Shell Heaps in New Jersey; Collectors and Collec-
tions; Coins Found in Oshkosh; The Nicaragua Foot Prints
Airain; The Ancient Wall in Wisconsin 868
Editorial— The Lost man. Where was he lost? 376
Literary NoTE8—By th« Editor— Identiflcation of Piacts; Nahuatl
Phonelics; Legends of Devils Lake; Egyptian Sites; Olympia; Jap-
anese Superstitions; Moqui Indiiins; The Sun Dance among the
Crecs; Beothuk Indians; Tlie Selish Kawia Languages 379
Notes ON Amehican Ethnology— By D. G Brinrou. M. D.— The De-
rivation of Su.«quehanna; The Anlliropolog>' of Guiana; The Tribes
of Tierra del Fuego; The Origin of Tattooing; Cordovas Zapoteca
Grammar; The Puris of Brazil; Dr. Boaz' (>ikimo Studies; Native
Tribes of Venezuela; Rincon's Nahuatl Grammar • 381
Notes Fi»om The Far East- By Prof. John Avery— Some Rude Tribes
of Southern Yunnan, Upper Burma and Siam 388
Book Reviews— History of the Ojibways, Minn. Hist. Soc. ; Ancient
and Modern Methods of Arrow Release; by Edward 8. Morse; In-
dian Games, by Andrew McFarlan Davis; American Oriental So-
ciety; The Medicine Man. by Robert Bell; Legends of the Land
of Lakes. byG. Francis; Annals of Fort Mackinaw, by Dwigbt H.
Kelton; Objects of Interest, by H. H. Tammen; Ten Years amonjc
Indians at Skokomish, by Rev. M. Eells; A Naturalist's Wander-
ings, by Henry O. Forbes; Salammbo of Gustave Flaubert, by M.
French Sheldon; Legends of the Northwest jy H. L. Gordon. 387
Books Received 392
*
THE
^mcxxcun ^ntxqn^xxmx.
Vol. VIII. January, 1886. No. i.
ANIMAL FIGURES IN AMERICAN ART.
The prevalence of animal figures throughout the American
Continent must have impressed itself upon the minds of our read-
ers. We have already shown in our articles on symbolism that
these figures are not confined to the emblematic mounds, but are
scattered everwherc. They are discovered in all parts of the
wide-spread field; in picture writing, in inscriptions, in pipes
and potter>% upon shell and bone ornaments, in wooden totem
posts, in sculptured columns, in idol pillars, in the ancient cod-
ices, in paper and cloth, and in all the lines through which the
ancient inhabitants could represent these figures. The number of
ornaments and relics which contain animal figures is im-
mense. They are perhaps not as numerous as the stone relics,
such as axes, arrow-heads, spear-heads, and do not fill our cabi-
nets as frequently as these ; but if we consider the field through
which they are scattered, and the variety of material in which
they appear, and ways in which they were represented, we may
conclude that they do not after all, fall ver^' far short of the
stone relics in number, and certainly do not in importance.
The reason for the existence of these figures is not always
perceptible, but there seems to have been some latent principle
which had great influence over the native mind; a principle which
pertained to all the races and which w^as quite fundamental in its
nature. What that principle was which ruled so extensively, is a
mystery. It is possible that it came from a primitive animal wor-
ship and so may be regarded as a product of the religious sen-
timent; and yet if we take this position we must grant another,
namely, that all the native races in America came up from a low
stage and yet have retained the tokens or signs of their primitive
worship. In that case we should consider that the animal fig-
ures were all of them symbols and that no animal form existed
that did not have a religious significance. This, however, is the
a •'• .THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN.
very poiitt..Ttoiit which wc arc uncertain. The inquiry is whe Mh-
cr aniiuiil iig;urcs were symbolic or imitative.
ri]i^ thvn is the subject to which we call attention, the imi *•
ti\\ cji?iractor of many of the animal figures. That there was ^sn
i\\)ii\yiAc amonj^ the prehistoric races for constructing art formTis
ViH.bi* scrn fn>m the following facts: i. The number and variety
or relics which scom to have no other object than to gratify tie
•Cuicv. r. The throat imitative skill exhibited bv these relics. j-
•The taste for art forms was not confined to the civilized races
but provailod amr.ng the rudest and the wildest. 4. The skill for
makini;; iho^o forms was exercised in a great number of ways.
;;. The material r.sed did not matter; the skill for making imit^^
ii\e iii;uies oxercame all difficulties and mastered the material
uss\i. \\hale\e:- ii was. 6. The beauty exhibited by the advanced
!"onn>i KlsM"e:> .VxMn that seen in iho lower specimens only as tlic
IMtUMiis. an J lii^iues are more elaborate; but indicate the same
taste AwA slvil!. -. Y\\c improvemcn: of an does not depend upon
thom:;o,iuctio:i o( a new sense of beauty, or even the change <5*
thai SCUM*, bill lather the cultivation of something which is in^^f^^'
ent \i\ tlu' eutue American i\u\\ We are now considering native
Ameii\ an ait. and liu* hypotheses which we have laid down r^f^^
oni\ t.> the Xmeiican iace<. Tiu^ same m.iy be true of all ^^
Viu' sv':)-./ .'; !v.ra:\ in i:^.he:er.: ::: h;::r.an nature.
1; i/.;;r:/s :^ ^ n/w fa/;s'.t\ to <ee th," b».\\.::i!u'. in nature or _ *o
nv.it.ite .: n ,r.:. 1^:: ^^n■\ t>.e c,:l:.\ .;:\>:: ef th^Maculties whi^"
we luue
\ \w \ "\ . .t ,;a :,ie ^"^ \\e:> e\ .:. ."illy .riJ-.^-iW..: widi a sen:5e <J«
Iv.m;. :» ; "..■ ". ii \.;Se vi.^'iv/ i'.:; : ".'. ."".s '.\ere in the ni:<3St
»;v^> :* : 1 x^- : r. ■ :.n, •.,-,", .•.•.,: :" r :>.-.. r burial places.
1.1 . \^ ,^ \« ..*.'. .s *..*..*■»:.* .; ^ :-.■ ." ' :•,.-.-:>*. There ^'"^
• i-V « 1 .. 1 ^. .^ W ». ..», . .. ...«.»-«.•> •^•« *» ll***
\^% . < . .■»,... %.■■*■*■ .•"•**• ■\"" •*h*'* CiVlllZ^
»■• «... 1. I .. .»\ ..\%.. % v^. ..... • ......... »«lw^«»«*"
t . .
I • ■
^ - ^ '.^ -".'.r.-c bcaut.ful fc^"
. . ^ • .
• 1
*•■■ • ... . t *•...!. .
* k . ..." .^
■. W ■.. ,^v, ... • . . • :.r.:bir and varic-
.. W ^, • ,. . , . . . ., -.■-. ..Vs exercised
: . W. ., - ', . ... ,..- r. r> -Jie animals
.\ W ,> . : :>. A rrc a:: nali«
\ . . ■ i . M ■ ■ \ :^ aaimals in
\ .". .^ .-,•., , , -. ■....•. . . . ^ ^ :.- >: ^cdced and
AXIMAL FIGURES IN AMERICAN ART. 8
the forms which belong to the historic races we are to distin-
guish from those which belong to the prehistoric races.
In making these inquiries we are to confine ourselves to intrinsic
evidence and not go outside of this to examine into the credibili-
ty' of witnesses or the genuineness of the totems. The analysis of
the figures and the study of their dififerent parts may help us to
understand the subject. But the peculiarities of the native art
must be carefully traced. The superstitious character of the na-
tive mind must also be brought into account. The art forms
must, to a degree, be interpreted in the light of the religious senti-
ment. Art was correlated with mythology, in America as well
as in Greece, and the aesthetic character of the native mind was
exhibited in both.
I. Let us first consider the number and variety of animal forms.
1. The geographical districts furnish dififerent animal forms;
they also present art in different stages; and so we have not only
a great variety of animal figures, but different methods of repre-
senting them.
2. The material employed was quite dififerent in dififerent sec-
tions of the country and even in the same district animal forms
were represented in all kinds of material.
3. There were dififerent motives which ruled in the construc-
tion of animal figures. These figures were sometimes merely
objects of fancy and again were objects of worship.
These considerations all complicate the subject and yet they
may be analyzed and understood, and the dififerent art forms
distinguished from one another by these means. We do not
mean to say that all animal figures were imitations of the animals
of the district where the specimens are found; nor do we mean
to infer that the figures which seem to be mere objects of fancy
may not have been religious in their character but we are merely
laying down what seem to be general principles though there are
many exceptions to them.
The American school of art, and especially that department of it
where animal figures are imitated, is before us, for us to enter and
examine its dififerent models and specimens. The prevalence of
animal figures in native American art was much greater
than is generally supposed. Any one who will take pains to
examine the dififerent specimens, will see this. A brief review of
the field will show the position animal figures occupy, and at
the same time reveal the dififerent phases which these figures as-
sume.
American art is presented in dififerent lines as follows:
(i.) Drawing. There are drawings upon bone, bark, boards,
and many other materials. Wherever drawings are found animal
figures are very common.
(2.) Inscriptions form another line. These are found in tablets and
on rocks; wherever there are insciptions, there are animal figures.
c
4 riff: AMKkK.AN ANTU^L'ARIAN.
/ • / ' .If v 'I of/'".*. :jr': n'jnr,erMis, The canincr niav be iti
.i'»n« , ifi /,o'//|. 'ftuf\fff.r:i .ionhWy in <-he!l or bone. But wherever
if J :. -ifi'l //li;it' vr th': rnat'.-rial, carved animal figures are much
mnti Mii/;t' r'/M . tli;iri any othr-r.
^1 ; MoiiM'-'l obj'-rt , an; common. These arc more numerous
ihi'i/m; III' .ul.i\urt*l rac':^ than amon;^ the savages, and yet the
Ir'ihlM M' ' '. '.oMM tinir, /-xhifiit considerable skill in mouldiJ^S-
I'liili IV r. ..iiM In hrlonj^ to th*: middle grade of cultus, but tlie
• li lim liMii I', ii'ft '.<! mil' h in the material as in the skill of c: o'^'
.In I' liii|; I li* tnoiildinf', of pottery into animal forms was v'^^^
iiiMiiiinii .iiMMnt' tli«- native races.
> •
( ', I MMiind..inf| i-.iithworks form another line in art. Th» ^^^
Imm hill . \\M' nmriiinis scilid cones, sometimes walls wh». *^
III iitiiinli 1 1 I III In. Mil-., '.oinctlmcs massive i)yramids. and sotT'^^^'
hiiii ■• ml ill in. If II III '.N'mlMjlic tiiMires. To this last class bclr^ *^S
ill! I llij'\ immiiihI'. Animal lp.Min*s arc not so numerous in *fc ^
• iilli iniiiiM. .1. llii \- ,in- in dr.iwing*^. carvings, inscriptions ,
in iit\ iiiIhi t|i |i,iiiiMini (»r n.itivt' art ; init where they are foiM ^
III" \ .il\'..i\ . |tiii\i mlrii-.iiiij; and >itriking objects. ..
i»i I '•! (il|ihiiril '.liinr ihis dillrrs from carved objects in tha '^^ ^
I iM Mii.ilU tn It.i'.'. u-lirl. tliouiih there may be specimens
I nl|iiiiii w liii li I .m li.ndU Uc distinguished from can'ing. T
> iilph I \iniiii.i .)biMmd'« w ith animal figures.
[ ) \ii Int. 1 hii.il '^inii Mm -i It may seem singular, but the
II. j«. .nn. n. .»! an lnl» , t\iu' m which stone is wrought ar
l»l ii . d lo 1 (h. I ■..« .1 . ii» ii -.rmMr anima! Mi;iire<.
I h. . i\.n hn. ■. «»l .nt pi r^i'iu anima! shapes wryfrequentl
I* i!m|» m.M. li.,ni.nil\ ih.m all :!u* >!^a:vs put together an-
H». \ I. n.l. \ \\h Milv, .t .1 \i:\ ;r.:;:ir.! vv^* Th,.^ etn«5ies in eart
H. d\. n\.» \ iiiKin-; Is , .r.:-.x' ::^*N /.:*' ::^v* :'::^^<t mysterious an
i'»- in.. i\> I i\, I h, \ .11, •^'»: w ,!/ »»-.*"^\;.: !>::: are restricted i
.!« . ',«. »u\ ill, \ ^■,^ :»i :'.^ :,^;;n •:* .^•^' ■.,v.\'::y. but are rare ir
. .*». 1 .l<, \ I , ■.•..•, ,.''vv;»\'. w :!: :r.v.*y re'ics. but ar
«. X ... w, \x ... i»>,; r-i .■■■■.;.'< /,:v v. .rthy vM* attentio
".- :■., :> .::*..: habits in th
.■*.-, .xhibi: the samc^
■. -s ". "ivrfeK:: imita-^
\ . . .. ,, -v. • . ••- . .:i r.:."re fuii than
. . ■ , \ . ,, .- . •. ** .-■'r^r :r. which the
. .. •. , . :. v> ."t" :he animal
, . ', , - . .- :.:r,::.'naMt}"or
m
. N , . *^ %" * .w n zr^e way,
X . V* , ■ . V , V / - w.\:". r.n^ the ani-
, '\ ,- - :>e ni:>unds
• " rh ,5 a^ count:
V . m" , ,*. T*^.- Trx^;nsd5 and
. X .. %\ . -rj.rj:^ '■ith the
1
I \
« 1 ■
ANIMAL FIGURES IN AMERICAN ART. 5
methods and styles which were peculiar to the native artists.
This, then, brings us to another part of our subject.
II. The imitative skill of the prehistoric races. This subject has
especial interest at the present time;, as several papers have been
published on it, and much discussion has arisen over it. It is
probable that the discussion will lead to a clearer understand-
ing of the methods of the native artists or at least to a closer
study of the specimens of the primitive art.
1. We make a remark at the outset, that naturalists can aid the
archaeologists in this work and yet the aid must be in a consid-
erate and friendly spirit, and with no attempt to dictate and cer-
tainly with no arrogating of superior wisdom. The recognition
of the animals intended may be difficult to the archaeologist be-
cause of his want of familiarity with the animals. In this the
naturalist has the advantage. On the other hand, the archaeolo-
gist is expected to understand the method of the native artist
much better than the naturalist and he is better calculated to pa$s
an opinion on the imitative skill and artistic taste of the prehis-
toric sculptors and painters. If the naturalists expect that the na-
tive artists are to exhibit the accuracy of nature in the represent-
ations of animal life, they expect more than has been realized in.
modern art. It is very high art when a sculptor can represent
nature in all its details, and if the artist is true to life in the
main, we do not stop to criticize the imperfect parts but are ready,
to admire the imitation as a whole. To illustrate: a native may
have represented a bird as deficient in one of its toes or as hav-
ing a bill which is longer or shorter than is natural; he may rep-
resent an animal as having either two legs, or four, and may
give it a tail that is longer or shorter than that which is natural,
and yet we may pronounce his imitative skill as admirable. It de-
pends altogether upon the standard or criterion. We doubt
whether the naturalist is any better qualified to furnish this stand-
ard than the archaeologist. The specimens are to be judged as
works of art; (not modern,) but prehistoric art, and the
archaeologist is as familiar with this as the naturalist. The neg-
ative side may be presented by the naturalist, and he may fail as
a critic, utterly; but if, on the other hand he would put the positive
side out, he would receive gratitude of archaeologists generally.
2. We call attention in this connection to the criticisms which
have been passed on archaeologists on these points. The archaer
ologists of this country are not held by any theories but are con-
scientiously seeking for the truth. They welcome all discoveries,
and accept all well established facts, no matter what may be the
effect upon any theory.
It has been their fortune to come in contact with specialists on
either side, who have furnished them with information on certain
technical points. Generally, this contact has been of great ad-
vantage, and the problems which arc before them have seemed
le work ]
orne ii^H
by thcH
remetn-^^
THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN.
to be hastening toward a solution from the mutual aid and c(
operation of the gentlemen engaged in studying the diflei
sciences. Criticism has not been an object with either side.
positions of other scientists have been respected and the arch;
ologists have acknowledged their indebtedness. The science
archeology has grown up in this way.
In reference to laborers in the past. archa;ologists have aii
been respectful, realizing that their work was conducted uni
great'difficulties. Those who. in this country, have been devot-
ed to the subject and have furnished so much valuable material,
have seemed especially deserving of praise. The data of the
science have come through the labors of the.se men, and the work
is a grateful one throughout. These facts are to be borne
mind when we consider the criticisms which have been passi
upon archaeologists, and especially upon the work done by
authors of the "Ancient Monuments." It should be
bered that the book by Squier and Davis was published about
forty years ago. and that great progress in art and science has
been made since that time Yet it will be noticed that great
discrimination is manifest by them when they speak about areh-
leological relics, and great modesty is manifest by them whci
they treat about the facts of zoology. These gentlemen were stud;
ing the relics in their bearing upon ethnological problem.s, aju
yet they have furnished much information in zoology. Ase
of quotations may illustrate this point. These authors say,
their work on the Ancient Monuments. " some of these scul
tures have a value, so far as ethnological research is con<
much higher than they can claim as mere works of art , thi
ue is derived from the fact that they faithfully represent an
and birds peculiar to othsr latitudes, thus establishing a migi
tion. a very extensive inter communication, or a contemporai
ous existence of the same race over a vast extent of country."*
" It is unnecessary to say more than that as works of art, tl
are immeasurably beyond anything which the North Amei
can Indians are known to produce." * * "A much higher rani
can be claimed for the mound sculptures ; they combine taste "
arrangement, with skill in workmanship, and are faithful copif
not distorted from nature. They display not only
figures and the characteristic attitudes, but in some cases, as
have seen, the very habits of the objects repre5ented. So far
fidelity is concerned, many of them deserve a rank beside
best efforts of the artist naturalists of our own day." * • " Thi
are simple in form as in design, and as works of art beyond
faithful observance of nature and great delicacy of execution, li
tie can be claimed for them ; in these respects they are certail
remarkable and will be the more admired, the more closely th<
are inspected." * * " Many of these exhibit a close obsci
of nature and a minute attention to details, such as we could
ANIMAL FIGURES IN AMERICA5^ ART. 7
expect to find among a people considerably advanced in the mi-
nor arts, and to which the elaborate and laborious, but usually
clumsy and ungraceful, not to say unmeaning productions of the
savage, can claim only a slight approach." * * " It will of course
be understood that nothing of the imposing character of many
of the sculptured relics of Central America is found in the
mounds; we have no sculptured facades of temples and palaces,
invested with a symbolic meaning or commemorative of the ex-
ploits of chiefs and conquerors ; nor have we ponderous statues of
divinities and heroes, nothing beyond the simplest form of stone
structure." * *
" These singular relics have been thus minutely noticed, inas-
much as they have a direct bearing upon some of the questions
connected with the origin of the mounds. That we find marine
shells, or articles composed from them, in the mounds, is not so
much a matter of surprise, when we reflect that a sort of ex-
change was carried on even by the unsympathising American
tribes, and that articles from the mouth of the Columbia are
known to have found their way, by a system of transfer, to the
banks of the Mississippi; their occurrence does not necessarily es-
tablish anything more than that an intercourse of some kind, was
kept up between the builders of the mounds on the banks of the
Ohio, and the sea. There is, however, something more involved
in the discovery of these relics. They are undistinguishable, so
far as material and workmanship are concerned, from the entire
class of remains found in the mounds ; and are evidently the
work of the same hands with the other effigies of beasts and birds.
And yet they faithfully represent animals found (and only in
small numbers), a thousand miles distant upon the shores of
Florida." * *
Here then we have the comments on the imitative character
of the pipes, written by archaeologists who lived before the
science had made much advancement. We consider them judi-
cious, well guarded, aud discriminating, and doubt whether any
archaeologists of the present day would make them any more so.
Still, that our readers may understand the limitations which may
be put upon the native art, or rather, recognized in the speci-
mens of art, we shall quote the language of the naturalist who
has undertaken to criticise them as imitations.
Mr. Henshaw says : " It is precisely upon the supposition that
the carvings were accurate copies from nature, that the theories
respecting them have been promulgated by archaeologists ; on
no other supposition could such theories be advanced. .So ac-
curate indeed, have they been deemed, that they have been di-
rectly compared to the work of modern artists, as will be noticed
hereafter." * * "So far in point of fact is this from being true,
that an examination of the series of animal sculpture can not fail
to convince any one, who is even tolerably well acquainted with
8 THE AMERICAN ANriQUARIAN.
our common birds and animals, that it is simply impossible ^®
recognize specific features in the great majority of them. Th^^y
were either not intended to be copies of particular species, or, *'
so intended, the artist's skill was wholly inadequate for his p«-i**
pose." * "" ** Following the lead of the authors of ' Anci^s^^^
Monuments,' also, with respect to theories of origin, these ca^c"^'*
ings of supposed foreign animals are offered as affording inc(^ *^*
testible evidence that the Mound Builders must have mi^rat:'^^ ^
from, or have had intercourse direct or indirect, with the regic^^
known to harbor these animals." * * ** Except that the theor
based upon the sculptures have been enunciated more positive
and given a wider range, the}' have been left almost precisely
set forth by the authors of the * Ancient Monuments,* while ab<
lutely nothin'j appears to have been brought to light since th<
time in the way of additional sculptured evidence of the sai
character." '^ *
The same writer says : " Particular attention may be called
the deep and lasting impression made by the statements of thes=-
authors as to the great beauty and high standard of excellent
exhibited by the mound sculptures. Since their time writers
pear to be well satisfied to expiess their own admiration in
terms made use of by Squier and Davis. One might, indeed, a
most suppose that recent writers have not dared to trust to tl
evidence afforded by the original carvings or their fac>similes
but have preferred to take the word of the authors of the'Anciei
Monuments* for beauties v/hich were perhaps hidden from thei
own eyes." * '■' '* It is. indeed, a little curious to note the pei
feet unanimity with which most writers fall back upon the abov(
authors, as at once the source of the data they produce in sup
port of their theories, and as their final, nay, their only authority.*
* * •* In the main, the theories first announced by the authoi
of Ancient Monuments as the result of their study of the moun<
sculptures, are those that i)ass current to-day."
3. The point which we desire to make is this: will the naturalist::^
who undertakes to criticise the sj)ecimens which have come
down to us from the native artists give us some criterion by
which we can judgj them as imitations ? If the measurements
of the different parts of the animals in question could be giv-
en and the proportions of their limbs, winj^s and other p>arts of
the body could be st:ited wc might then deljrmine the accuracy
or inaccuracy of the specimens. This work has to a certain ex-
tent been done by the arch.L'oh);^!sts,'' but n.ituralists arc sup-
posed to be better qu:dified to do it. The njarest approach to
this which the author of "Animal Carvings" has reached is the re-
mark which he has made in reference to the **salient points.*' We
quote his language and are willing to give him as much credit as
*Sse Am. Anlicjuarian. Vol. II, No. I.
ANIMAL FIGURES- IN AMERICAN ART. *
if it were a new discovery. He says . " In considering the degree*
of skill which is exhibited by the mound sculptures in* their de-
lineation of the features and characteristics of animals, it is of the
utmost importance to note that the carvings of birds and animals
which have evoked the most extravagant expressions of praise as
to the exactness with which nature has been copied are uniform-'
ly those which, owing to the possession of some unusual or sal-
ient characteristic, arc exceedingly easy of imitation. The stout
body and broad flat tail of the beaver, the characteristic physiog-
nomy of the wild cat and panther, so utterly dissimilar to that of
other animals, the tufted head, and fish-eating habits of the heron,
the raptorial bill and claws of the hawk, the rattle of the rattle
snake, are all features which the rudest skill could scarcely fail
to portray."
But wc set opposite to this the quotation from Squier and Da-
vis, given above, especially that pnrt which refers to the habits
of the objects represented. *' They display not only the figures
and the characteristic attitudes, but in some cases, as we have
seen, the very habits of the animals represented.'*
This is the peculiarity of the carved relics as well as the eflfigies
found in the emblematic mounds. They not only represent
the "salient characteristics" of the animals, but they make those
characteristics and features represent the habits of the animals.
It appears that the authors of the ** Ancient Monuments '* had
a clear discernment as to what were the true characteristics of the
relics, and that they understood their true merits and were able
to describe them without any bias, whatever. There is, howev-
er, one question which we do not find answered either in the
•'Ancicnt Monuments" or in the ''Animal Carvings." namely was
there not a system of classification of the animals by the native
artists, according to their habits, which is as strictly followed and
as strikingly set forth asif the particular species according to any
modern system were made the standard ?
III. Do the imitative qualities in the relics enable us to rec-
ognize the animals intended? In reference to the majority of the
relics, there is no dispute. The carved pipes do frequently rep-
resent the animals 5,0 that they can be easily recognized. The
same is also true of the effigies in the mounds, the inscribed
figures seen upon rocks, those which are painted, and moulded
in pottery, those which arc carved in wood, and those which are
sculptured into idols. It may be true, as Mr. Ilcnshaw says, that
the particular species or variety of animal is not always recog-
nizable; but we think that the generic class is generally pretty
well represented; and that the naturalist need not be at a loss in
determining what animal was intended. We must remember,
however, that there was often a religious sentiment connected
with the animal forms, and that that sentiment seized upon
points or peculiarities about the animals which might easily es-
THB AHERICAK ANTIQIURIAX.
1
cape llie notice of a naturnlUt. but which would forcibly »*""
prcfi:* ihc native mind. While on the other hand, those vC"*
piiints which might be dLitinctive of a species, to the eye c»f
zoologiiit would escape the notice of a native; artist.
Mr, Hcnshaw says: "It is certain that it isaconimon pr.3.c-
ticc of Indians to endeavor to perpetuate the image of £«.»'*1'
Rtranijc bird or beast, especially when seen away from Iior*"**^.
and in order that it may be shown to his friends." Thcau^***"
or« of the Ancient Monuments virtually say the same thi*»:
unci archii'olo(iists jjencrally endorse the position. But if •
natunilint expects the Indian or the mound builder to riq>
»ent the little peculiarities of structure which to modern scier»'
in the biiaiti of clasiiification, he is expecting more than he
find. The point which we desire to know is whether the pn
llcnt featurcH of the animals arc so closely imitated that we a
recot;niie the animals from these. Possibly the habits of the
inwls were represented by some subtle part of the figv-^
wliicli we, because of our inadverlance. fail to see. Possif
too, the rcligiou* si);nificnuce may h.ive been bidden in the i
Jiye, HHil we, owing to our want of acquaintance, fail to see tha
'TU\n Icndu us to consider a few of the figures which have '
rnont In dispute.
1. The Maniti-e. The figures which represent the Manitec
the toucan
Uken fri
ANIMAL KIGURES IN AMERICAN ART,
11
fauencc of the short anterior extremities which were regarded as
sands. It has been found difficult to assign a place for it in the
animal creation, and it has been remarked that it may be indis-
criminately called the last of the beasts, or the first of fishes. It
has two pectoral or abdominal mammal, which from their posi-
tion probably gave rise among mariners to the fable of the mer-
maid. Columbus, when he first saw these animals in the West
Indias, called them sirens. They bring forth two young ones at
—A birth ; in defense of which, the manilus, though a peaceable and
irmless animal, is insensible to pain or fear. Its habits are little
Jtlderstood. It is supposed never to leave the water, but fre-
liuents the shores, to feed upon the grass at the edge. Sea-grass
r fucus and marine herbage arc supposed to constitute its prin-
, if not its only food; though this is a point upon which nat-
ralists have not ventured to give a decision. The opinion,
lowever, seems general, that it is an herbivorous animal. As
efore observed, the manitus is found only in tropical waters,
iquenting the mouths of rivers, but sometimes ascending them
a great distances. They were seen by Humboldt in the Rio
Meta, a branch of the Orinoco, one thousand miles above its
mouth ; and it is said they are found in the Amazon two thous-
and miles from the sea. They arc also found among the Antilles
on the southern coast of Mexico, and on the coast and in the
rivers of Florida, in the United States. Excepting upon that
peninsula, we have no account of their occurrence on our coasts.
Bartram mentions a singular sprinj;, a few miles below Talla-
hassee, Florida, which was frequented by the manitus; and its
bones are found, and occasional living specimens observed, in
the Manitee river which enters Tampa bay. The peculiarity of
; manitee is that it is strictly herbivorous; this characteristic,
e authors of the ancient monuments have stated, and have 'no
"where given a cut or a remark which is inconsistent with this.
They say that " seven sculptured representations of this animal
have been taken from the mounds, ol which three are nearly per-
fect. " They say that " the external features are faithfully and mi-
^tely exhibited in the sculptures ; the truncated head, small
pd scarcely distinguishable ears, thick, semi-circular snout, pe-
taliar nostrils, tumid furrowed upper lip, singular feet or fins.
nd remarkable moustaches, are all distinctly marked, and ren-
|er the recognition of the animal complete." Mr. Henshaw, on
i TIIK AMKHICAN ANTIQUARIAN.
!k' i'ontr.iry. would make the anim.il represented as manitee,
i^t lu'lhivnroiis but carnivorous, and identify the images as rep-
:-sem.ttii>ns oftht- utter, yet the niotmd builders evidently dr-ew
lie tlislimtion between the two. universally representing the one
s hcrbivoinus and the other as carni\-oro»s.
riie\' repro<eiitcil the manitee as having onl>- two feet, ^r\°
:v otter, either .is h.ivinjj two feet or else figured the anin^a'
with two feet visible, and **^^
other invisible. The distinct » *^"
between these animals is clea._i'»>'
portr.ived b\- the pipes. show m. i^g
tint the native artists were famn •■'"
i.ir bvHh w ith the form of the ■^^*"
:!1m:s an^i their habits. Sec ^ '^"^
c;::s. r:^s. .\ iand4. _
I: .ipixars th.it the imitat ^*^.
:'.» i:'.;y «.i> we'.! ileveloped by t=^ **''
:;:>.-;::■:,; V,;;'.Jir? for thev recc:=»^'
.■ .":.:".-.:s .-.r.-i .. ere s-^ccessful 'I",
; ■;-.■ r.:s ' ^re -.vrtr.ij-ed : and v
^■- rV: :v..>: :.N.'r<.-~j"-.o recogni -^^
ANIMAL FIGUHES IN AMERICAN ART.
1&
of the eyes, show clearly enough that it is a likeness of no bird
known to ornithology." See Fig. g.
The second case where a mistake has been made is in refer-
ence to a bird which the authors call a toucan, but which
Mr. Henshaw
calls the crow
or raven. He
ays, "It is
hone of the
most happily
executed o f
the avian
sculptures.
See Fig. 6.
The third
cimcn is. however, more clearly a toucan. This bird is
represented as having a long bill and head, short body, and
with toes which vary in differenf- cuts, so that these are doubt-
ful. The peculiarity of the figure is. that it is represented as
feeding out of-the hand, lines representing fingers, being in
front of it. This would indicate that the bird was tame. On
this point we quote both from the "Ancient Monuments," and
from "Animal Carvings." See P"ig, /.
"This bird is common only in the tropical countries of South
America. "In those districts, (Guiana and Brazil,) the toucan s
almost the only bird which the aborigines attempted to domesti-
cate." -fin reference to this, Mr. Henshaw .says that it was by no
means an uncommon practice for North American Indians to
capture and tame birds ; the New England Indians tame hawks;
the Zunis, a great number of eagles and turkeys; the Dakotas,
tame eagles, crows, hawks, and magpies ; the Congarees of North
Carolina, storks and cranes.
c\^^
U
rm ATosgacAir Awrv^kttAiir-^
The only question is as to the animal represented. There i
mound pipe in the possessionof Mr. Wm, M.Anderson, of Circle
ville. Ohio, which is imitative of the same bird, but differs from
the one described in the "Ancient Monuments." by having one ho^'^
of the pipe in the back of the bird between the winys, and tl''^
other in the tail. The stripes for feathers run perpendicular ''^'
iilciid of hori/ontal, The animal in this pipe represents the tou-
«iiii, more than the one depicted in the "' Ancient Monumcn.*^-
an itN body ii an exact counterpart,* except that it lack.^ the t:3.»i.
The diKtingui-shing feature of the bird in both pipes is the t>»iU
and we maintain that the identification of the image with the t:t:>"'
can i« the correct one. The habits of the bird are at least rcj:**"^^^
iicnted by it.
.J, There arc several birds which arc represented in the pi j
which arc not so easily identified, owing to the fact tliat tt's
habit!! are not indicated. Concerning some of these, Mr. \l ^
Hhaw ha.>i cxprciiiscd his opinion.
p;. I'l»r I'f-I ii the tuikey biii;ard Uiji- ^-i A specimen of this
Htvvn l»y Siinior and l)«vis, "Ancient Monuments" (Fig. Il^^
Wilh thi' wnvifk "im-KibK- ilT^■t;l^nI •(» repn.^scTit " " ~
lllV I'
ih.- i i
[W.h'i , /-
AW(h,M
turkey !►■
the mandit^*
1- ii'-i trace
Ridj'vw.-iy. iC
^ , -<■, although 1
1th tlie sklM\ n-^k.i!AMy M Us ^^uUuctory rccog
*'(:>m', ni-^-.^r'tiii; t* Si',iiitT ,\nJ I>i\if. rcprc^^nt*
ANIMAL FIGURES IN AMERICAN ART. 16
Kuted likeness of the tufted cardinal gross-beck or red bird.
Another, (Fig. lo,) Squier ant! Davis say will readily be recog-
nized as intended to represent the head of the grouse, Mr.
Henshaw says '■ tlic c^-rc and plainly notched bill of thecarving
clearly indicate a hawk."
This is the bird which is rep-
resented inthecut, Fig, lo. It
will be noticed that it has
head wholly nnbke that
i of the hawk. The bill also is
P much shorter. Two hawks'
heads are presented in cuts by
way of comparison but they
have very little resemblance
to this one except in the
notched bill.
The carved figure concern-
ing which the naturalist has
Hade the greatest mistake h one which Squier and Davis call
■•the owl. but which he calls the bat, (Fig. 1 1.). This is a tube
of steatite upon which is carved a.^ is stated " in high relief the
figure of an owl attached by his back to the tube. This
drawing is remarkably bold and .spirited and represents the
bird with its claws contracted and drawn up, and head
and beak elevated as if in the act of defense and defi-
ance." Mr. Henshaw says " it may be well to glance at the
sculptured animal form to determine how far the accuracy of
these authors is to be trusted, and how successful they have been
in interpreting the much laiidcd "fidelity to nature of the mound
sculptures.," He then proceeds to say, " this carving differs
markedly from any of the avian sculptures and probably was
not intended to represent a bird at all. ' It more nearly resembles
18 THE AMBmcAN ANTigrARIAN
if it can be said to resemble anything, a bat with the features^
very much distorted." It may be difficult to distinguish a bird from
a bat, but if the reader will examine the cut and notice the tail
turned up, wings folded, and the claws drawn up ready to strike,
lie v/ill conclude that the authors of the " /\ ncient Monuments " _
analyzed the different parts of the figure better than does tbcj
autlior of "Animal Carvings." The eye and tlie appearance t
horns on the distorted head they interpret as representing;
those features ol the owl, and they .Tre not far from right. It
should be said in the way of apology for these many mistakesj
that the criticism was based upon examination of the cas'
which were in the Smithsonian Institution, the original of tl
cuts having been sold out of the countrj'. Still any one
knows the imperfect character of a cast and its failure to repre-J
sent the expression which is hidden in ihc original, would wod-J
derthat the casts were ustd at all, especially as the article i
intended to be especially critical.
4, There are certainly some mistakes which the authors of tl
"Ancient Monuments" nave made, and w*" arc grateful to Mr. Heml
shaw that he has cor-
rected some of them.
The figu re of the squ i r-
rel is an illustration
(Fig. 12.) This, Squier
and Davis have called
the otter.but Mr. Hen-
.ihaw, the squirrel and
says, "It •'conveys,
in a general wa;
good idea of this an-
imal ; the characteris-
tic attitude of this little rodent, sitting up with its paws extend*
in front, being well displayed." The-bird that was identified'a
paroquet has been correctly identified as a hawk ; and the fig
of which Squier and Davis were uncertain what bird it was inte
ANIMAL FIGUKES IN AMERICAN ART. 17
cd to represent, he says correctly is a likeness of a wood-pecker,
and is one of the best executed of the series of bird carvings.
IV. The manner in which the animals were represented by
American art. Tj^i.s is an interesting part of the subject. Wc
have considered the imitative skill, the animals which were imi-
tated and the means by which they could be identified. We are
now to consider the manner in which they arc represented.
1. We are to notice that the imitation of the animal form was
one object with the native artists.
2. The imitative objects were put to a practical use.
3. Where a useful object could be modeled into an imitative
form, an animal figure was taken as a model in preference to any
other.
4- A preference was given by the native artists to those natural
objects which in themselves were imitative of animals, and the
native art was used mainly in bringing out the resemblance and
S'ving completeness to the figure.
5- Tlie ease and convenience with which a natural object could
"^ modeled into an animal figure was frequently the reason for
S'ving it its particular shape.
6. Animal life was the object that ruled; even if the resem-
blance was vague and imperfect, the artist was content if this
^^uld be suggested, and was not always particular in giving
Perfect accuracy to the details.
7. This very fact, that animal figures were chosen as models,
^'^d that a vague and shadowy resemblance was suflScient to sat-
*^^ the native artist, shows that the religious sentiment was prev-
*^'^nt, and that these animal figures were fetichistic in their char-
acter.
^ These different points will be borne in mind as we proceed to
S*Ve some specimens of native art. *These specimens are taken
^'"om all departments: mound builders' pipes, rock inscriptions,
^fiigy mounds, Pueblo pottery, ornamentations on pottery and
curved wooden figures. Other specimens might be found upon
^hell gorgets, painted blankets and skins, engraved billets of wood,
^^d bark, and^in a few cases, in books and calendars which have
^^n transmitted by native Indians. These specimens arc all
^Und among the wild, uncivilized tribes. There are animal fig-
J^^^es in the idols of Mexico and Central America, but these are
55ft put of the account at present.
from which we have drawn our illustrations are as follow;: : Annual Reports of the
^ Bureau, Contributions to the Smithsonian Institution, especiallv Dr. Rau's Monograph
^v .■^...■^c Fishing, and S. Habel'.s Sculptures of Santa Lucia Cosumal Huapa.
^'^c are sJso indebted to the Reports of Peabody Museum, the Antiquarian Society, the Davenport
•^^yieiy of Science and many others.
^*t>c. of Davenport Academy, Vol. I, Plate IV, No. ii, p. 135.
Second Annual Report of Bureau of Ethnol. Fig. 647: also Proceedings of Davenport Academy, p.
»»^,pUlen, rig, 39>8^*
eighth Annual Report of Peabody Museum, pp. 31. 33, 40 and 41, Nos. 7,786, 7,774, 7.717. 7.814,
■^•TiC 7.7x9,7,8x8.
Ancient Pbttery of Miss. Valley, by Wm. H, Holmes.
Sculptures of Sania Luda Cosumal Huapa, in Gtiatamala. plates I, IT, VT. YIT.
up
THE AMEUCAX AXTiqrARUK.
We give a series of cuts to illustiatc ttese poinls.
TTic firet cut, (F^. i ?.) represents the b«ar ; u is a pipe w
was taken out of a mound in Muscztiiie Cotmt^', Iowa, by some
Gennaa fannera. The bear is rqMeseittrd wirii his moutli open
aod the back thrown
le attitude
to that an-
imal. There are many
other figures of the
bcai in the pipes and
potterj-. A pipe is
held by the Davcn-
poft Soc:ety,in whidi
the bear is repre-
sented »ith head
■i as if looking
the shoulder,
. ; : '.lie boiy crouch-
ing. This cam,.- :r ni .'. m Lin.i r,..-.- T ■ .lor-', lo»-a. There
were fourteen pipes reported ai ihe same tunc. " They are
all the so-called mound pipe patient, ^omc of them carved
into effigies of birds and animals." This animal is also repre-
sented in potten. There are some specimens in the NadonidjJ
Museum at Washington.
(Fig. 14). which might be
taken (or a bear, although
there are some peculiarities
about the images which
would conflict with this idea.
The>' are catalogued as
•* bUck-ware." One is de-
scribed by Dr. W. J. Hoff-
man as having no particu-
lar use further than as an
exhibition of skill in (he
working of clay. The bear
as found in the emblematic
mounds has oltcn been de-
cribed. The bear is also
(bund in rock inscriptions.
Fig. 1 5 is an animal which
\v3s inscribed upon a rock
in a cave at West Salem.
Thus we have the four
lines in which animal figures are found: carved pipes. polter>', em-
blematic mounds, inscribed rocks; all of them f;imishing good
imitations. ~
In reference to birds, the same thing is true; ihoi
liorc are ma^^^|
J
ANIMAL FIGURES IN AMERICAN ART. 19
imitations ofbirds found in all the departments. The figures
which we have already given show how thorough the imitations
are in the pipes. The pot tery of the mound builders and of the
-—^■^ , Pueblocs also contain
many bird forms. One
such may be seen in
the cut, (Fig. i6),abird
on a pedestal. This is
No. 39857 of the Na-
tional Museum. The
kind of bird represented
is not certain.
Tlic emblematic
mound builders repre-
sented birds, but gener-
ally with the wings spread. (Figs. 17 and 18), yet there are a few
cases where the bird is represented with folded wings, as in the
case of the swan, {Fig. 19.)*
The inscribed rocks also furnish specimens of birds, but more
frequently with wings spread than folded. We may conclude
then that the imitation was one object with the native artists, and
thar'the main reason for
makinga difference between
the carved figures and those
which were inscribed, or
painted, or moulded in
bass-relief, was because
't was more convenient,
h Was not easy to repre-
sent the bird with the
Wings spread, in the pipes,
»hile in the effigies and
inxriptipns, it was c\'cn
^ier to represent them so ^'"^- "
thaa folded. There was, however, a tendency to imitate the
birds accordinEj to their habits; this is illustrated by a specimen
inthe carving of wood from the Zunis;(P'ig. 30.) this is taken from
'he Second Annual Report of the Bureau of Kthnoloiry. It rcp-
f^nts an object which was common amonjf that people. The
bird is placed upon a stick so that it m.iy turn around as upon
a swivel ; the wings are attached to it so that they can be made
to move up and down by pullin'j a string, in imitation of the
™it in flight. These wooden imafjes are carved and painted to
present birds such as they were accu.stomed to S'-'c daily.
There arc many effigies of birds amon^ tho Pueblocs
iioiilded out of Pottery : .some fifteen .■ipecimcn.s are figured in
20
THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN.
this report as belonginp^ to the Zunis, and eight or ten as belong-
ing to the Lagunas. Several specimens from the Tesuke, and
from Santa Clara, twelve from the
Cochiti tribe, and four from other
localities.
Birds arc fre-
quently seen in
the mound build-
ers' potter)'. In K«g. is.
the Peabody Museum there are
many jugs with the mouth mould-
ed in the shape of a bird, and other
vessels which have handles moulded
in the shap^^ of birds' heads or
beaks.
The bird intended may be easily
distinguished by the shape of the
beak, or the eye, or head, and in
\ these images we recognize the owl,
.^.H.,.^ duck, and other birds.
The Davenport Acade-
my of Science also has
a large collection of
potter>'^ in which biids
and other animals are moulded.
Some of the birds, according to the
Report are made with pearls set
into the head as eyes ; these pearls
had been perforated for beads be-
w
Fig. 19.
lin'. »7.
fore they were introduced
into the head of the bird
and present great skill and
dellicacy of manipulation,
as the holes were drilled
through the fragile struc-
ture of the pearls which
were ver\' small and del- Fi^. 20.
icate. The combined weight of the two being only [2.68 ^granis
and the diameter only 4 mm. -:=5*
There are many ornamented vases in the National Museum at
ANIMAL FIGURES IN AMERICAN ART. 81
fVashington, on which animals and birds arc portrayed with
puch taste and beauty, A good specimen may be seen in Fig.
which rcprcRsnt-s a va:!^ from the Zunis. " The decoration
ofthis piece is
distinguish-
-ed chiefly by
the presence
of the elk or
deer ; atten-
is also
I called to the
T ihrce figured
itones or belts
on the vase.
,^^^_-- .r— ^ — -.«i.^_^— ^^''^ the arch
I^^^Kt^i^i\^^^^^^^^^S^^ enclosing an
^^^HBc^T^^^iT^^^^^ elk ; the mld-
^^^^BB^^Bsaj^H^ die or nar-
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
^^^^^^^^^^ cnclosingfig-
'■'- - II res of birds
with a long crest fe;iilKT. riiL' scroll is frcqiientiy introduced in
the ornamentations."' The animals in these vases wiil be easily
recognized, and possibly the birds might be recognized, were we
lamiliar with the species cpmn)o:i in that region. . It will be no-
I ticed. however that there are symbolic marks on the animat.<% and
lentation, so that wc cannot say that they were mere-
ly imitative. There were several styles
r types of ornaments among the Zunis.
and ther^ are conventional methods of
depicting animals ; but doubtless both
kcamc froTi a primitive symbolism. A
iimpler form or style of imitation may be
I seen in the following figures: (Figs. 23, 24
and 25,) these arc in the American Mu-
-. ... seum of Natural History at New York.
■They w-erc furnished by Mr. G^'o. Squier, and were taken from
the guano in Chine ha Islands, 3.2
feet below the surface. Mr. Squier
considers them as "accurate rep-
resentations of fishes actually!
found in Peruvian waters;" but-
Prof Gill says "they are too con-
ventional for determining the
species." The reader will find r-g. a..
_soinc excellent remarks on the last point mentioned above, (No. 7),
I
THE AHERICAK A.NTIQC^RIAN.
in Cushing's Monograph on Zuni Fetiches. The discernment
with which this author has written upon the subject, is in strong
contrast with others who have only looked at the subject from
the modem stand
point. He seems
to have under-
stood the relig-
ious significance i
o( the objects and
Lhas .said that the
natural objects
which resemble
Fig. '5- animals are r
nearly related to the native divinities than the conventional art
forms; but that the accidental resemblances are motives, for
these establish a relationship between the objects and the animals.
We infer, also, from what he says, that native American art dif-
fers fro.Ti modern art in that tho conventional and the perfected
art form was very likely to destroy the charm of the mystery.
There was a mystery in the natural concretion or accidental^
fragment which had a resemblance to an animal ; and the effort
of the artist was to perpetuate this mystery and to keep up the-
relationship between the imitative image of the animal and the"
animal divinity. The useful articles, such ai fish hooks, pottery,
vases and bottles, and even Ciirved p;p;s, w;:rc supposed to havft;
a charm about them and were giv;.'n the imitative shape, that the:
charm might be more complete. Tlic same i.i true with the effigy
mounds and many other objects.
THE STUDY OK THE NAHUATL LANGUAGE.
Under the stimulus of peace and an enlightened administra-
tion, Mexico is throwing open her vast and varied territory to the
capital and energy of the world. No nation is more interested in
this than ourselves, her nearest neighbors, and all that pertains to-
her history, her geography and her ethnology has assumed re-
doubled importance for us.
Of her population, it may be roughly said that one-fifth is of pure
white blood, two-fifths of mixed white — negro and Indian stocks —
and two-fifths pure Indian. The latter are of various linguistic fami-
lies, but it is true to-day, as it was in the period of the discovery,
that of them all the Nahuatl speaking tribes are the most numer-
ous and widely extended. They are foimd to-day in all the stati
(estados) which He between the port of Vera Cruz and the Pacil
Coast and along the latter northward to Sonora and with few ia'
terruptions south to Escuintla, in Guatemala. As early as tin
niE STUDY OF THE NAHUATL tlVNOUAOE.
Ifiirtctnth century tiiis tongue had penetrated as far as the Gulf
of Nicaragua, where there was a flourishing Aztec colony ; it was
the recognized trading ianj^uage throughout Gautemala; mercen-
ary troops had carried it early in the fourteenth century into tlje
II ^heart uf Yucatan, and the learned Husclimann in his great work
I^Bta the ■subject has followed its traces as far as the river Gila, and
^^oiiic into the Utah or Shoshonee dialects of New Mexico, Ari~
^Hnuand Upper California.
^^ According to the principles of lingu istic science, we have a
right 111 expect some peculiar merits in a language which had
this power of extension and self-propagation. These character-
istics usually belong to languages of structurally a high grade in
"mparison with those with which they are brought in contact,
IT ill this case is the presumption in error. The Nahuatl ian-
;e turns out on examination to be one of the most highly or-
Uiiz?don the American continent. Its phonetics are admirable,
' sscdly equalling those of the purest Castilian; its grammar
liiiiiccordance with simple and regular rules; its formative are
Istingiiishcd from its materia! elements, and are even flectional
in niturc. and its lexicography is ample and varied,
Tlie term Nahuatl. which means sonorous, well- sounding, was
2|iplicd to it in very early times on acct»unt of its softness to the
rar. Its modern synonyms are " Me.xican " and " Aztec." The
Mexican Antiquary. Orozco y Berra, has. indeed, criticised the
application of the word Nahuatl in this wide sense, basing his ob-
^Ctions on a passage from the Hhtoria of Father Sahagun, where
pit learned writer confines the expression to one dialect of the
fcncral tongue. But with all due deference to this gieat author-
||r, Nakuatt seems better than Aztec, for that was the tribal name
a very small though powerful segment of the stock ; and better
bn Mexican, for that is a geographical adjective which includes
fc languages of the whole country.
I The Nahuatl is not at all a difficult language for the European
p Itam ; at least it is infinitely easier than, for instance, the Choc-
^', the Cherokee or the Chipeway, in the United States, or its
Dcdiate neighbors, the Othomi or Tarascan. For this reason,
especially because it was so widely current, the Spanish mis-
irics paid a good deal of attention to it, and published in it a
!c number of works, chiefly devotional In 1870 Dr. Bercndt
plccted the names of 82 authors in it, and the list could now be
J to the even hundred, if not beyond.
iesidcs these religious works, which include, by the way, nu-
Dus collections of sermons, there is quite a body of Nahuatl
■atun: of a general character. Thus we have a very compen-
1* treatise on the manners and customs of the Mexicans, com-
dby Father Sahagun. the MS. of which is now in Madrid,
d of which his pubhshed history is but an imperfect translation,
a* lie himself says ; several historical works by IxllilxochitJ,
24 THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN.
Chimalpahin and anonymous writers; native poetry to a limited
extent ; specimens of the ancient orations, called huehuetla^olli,
and the h'ke. Most of these are still in manuscript, and the last
mentioned, lutelmetlatolli, th6ugh printed in 1599; is so rare a vol-
ume that only two copies arc known, both imperfect, one of which
is in my librar}^
The greater number of these historical and literary works owe
their preservation to the labors of the celebrated antiquar>'', the
Chevalier Boturini, who dev^otcd seven years to collecting them
in Mexico, in the first half of the last century. His collection was
sequestrated by the Spanish government, and in part dispersed
and lost, but in this century the unfortunate Irish peer. Lord
Kingsborough, whose enormous work on Mexican Antiquities is
familiar to every student of the subject, made strenuous efforts to
gather together the remnants of the Boturini collection. He was
in a measure successful, but less so than M. Aubin, a French
gentleman who was a resident in Mexico between 1830 and 1840.
This collector, with unwearied assiduity, tracked every article nam-
ed by Boturini in his catalogue, and succeeded in securing many
of them— just how many it is not possible to say, for M. Aubin,
who is still living, an advanced octogenarian, in Paris, has many pe-
culiarities, among others, that of not allowing a soul to look at his
literary treasures. They are destined, however, to become a part
of the great Bibliothcque Nationale: and therefore, without wish-
ing to abbreviate in the slightest the days of such a worthy col-
lector, we may be sure that these documents will at no distant
date be accessible to students.
It is thus .seen that the Nahuatl is a living language, spoken by
perhaps half a million people; that it has a literature of consider-
able extent for an American language; that it is comparitively
easy of acquisition ; and that it presents structurally one of the
highest types of American tongues. For these reaso.is it can be
particularly recommended to those who would like to turn their
attention to the many interesting problems presented by Ameri-
ican linguistics. To aid any who may be fired by this laudable
ambition, I will give a brief sketch of some of the most useful
text-books, and add a few words about what otht^r laborers in
this vineyard are accomplishing.
Beginning with Grammars, the earliest written wa^ that oi
Andre de C)lmos, one of thj first niiss'.onarij •. and a man of extra-
ordinary linguistic talents. I; WIS conclude J in 1547. but was
not printed until 1865, when it was publisht-d by the hVcncli gov-
ernment undjr the editorial sup:Tvision of M. Renii Simeon, one
of the ablest living Nahuatl scholar.^. It can be ordered through
any importing bookseller, and will cost the purchaser about S3. 50
As a grammar of that date, it is remarkably thorough, but it is
not the best. This position must without hesitation be assignee
to the grammar of Carochi, first printed in 1645, and edited b>
.r
THE STUDY OF THE NAHUATL LANGUAGE. 25
Father Paredes in 1759. This is a most complete and satisfactory
work. Unfortunately, it is scarce and dear. I paid jl 15.00 for
my copy in Paris, but the learned Mexican scholar, Dr. Antonio
Penafiel, writes me that he is going to publish a new edition of it
in that city. Numerous other grammars have been printed, but
they are all decidedly inferior to these two. The latest issues in
this direction have been efforts to tf*ach the language on the
"Ollendorf" system. In 1869 Sr. Faustino Chimalpopoca, a
Mexican scholar of partly native blood, published in the City of
Mexico an ** Epitome, or Easy Method of Learning the Nahuatl
Language." It is a little duodecimo of 124 pages, and. while it
is a creditable effort to the author, it will not carry the learner
far. A larger volume is that of Dario Julio Caballero, printed in
Mexico in 1880 with the title, ** Grammar of the Mexican Lan-
guage According to the System of OUendorflT." It has a number
of reading lessons in prose and verse, and well-selected vocabu-
laries.
As to Dictionaries, we are still dependent on thai of Alonzo de
Molina, the second enlarged edition of which was printed at Mexi-
co in 1577. Ofcourseit is scarce and dear, a good copy being cheap
at fifty dollars. But through the enlightened liberality of the de-
voted Americanist, Mr, Julius Platzman, of Leipzig, scholars can
obtain a most accurate reprint of it published by that gentleman
in 1880. The price in Leipzig is 50 marks — $12.50. It is merely
Preprint of the edition of 1 57 1, without addition or correction,
and contains about 1 3, ckdo Nahuatl words. But we may shortly
look for a very much more valuable work in this direction from
the hands of M. Remi Simeon, the president of the Socictc Amcr-
^aine de France, and whom I have already mentioned as the ed-
itor of Olmos' Grammar. He has been engaged for twenty-five
years in preparing an exhaustive lexicon of the Nahuatl, and he
writes me in a recent letter that it is now in press and will appear
through the well-known Parisian publishing house o\ Hachette &
(^^f- It will contain over 25,000 words, besides many locutions.
We may hail the appearance of this monument of industry as
raying for all time a secure foundation for researches in Nahuatl
philology. It is to be hoped that all the leading libraries of the
United States will provide themselves with an early copy.
for printed texts on which the student may exercise his gram-
niatical and lexical acquirements, we arc not as well off as we
should be, and very easily could be, wjrc such publications prop-
erly encouraged. In the line of religious writings, a volume is
^sucd by Paredes — the same whosj grammar I have already
Mentioned — has long enjoyed a just celebrity. It is a small
quarto of nearly 500 pages, with the title Prointitario Manual
Mcxicano^ and was printed in Mexico in 1759. Most of it con-
sists of sermons in Nahuatl, but the difficult passages are explained
^n Spanish, so the book is a very valuable aid for mastering the
26 THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN.
idioms of the native tongue. It is, of course, rare, and a copy
costs even more than the grammar. A few weeks ago I saw a
copy in New York marked $25.00, but that was a " fancy figure,"
as it can generally be picked up for about $15.00. One or two
of the sermons in the Proviptnario have been published separately,
with grammatical comments, within the last ten years, by Prof.
Agustin de la Rosa, at Guadalajara, Mexico; but, like all the
works of that finished Nahuatl scholar, they are extremely diffi-
cult to procure, as they were intended merely for the use of his
classes in the seminary and not for general sale.
An ample and excellent text was issued in a handsome quarto
volume at Milan in 1858-60, under the editorship of Professor
Bemadino Biondelli. It was the Evangeliarium, Epistolarium et
Lectionarium Asiecuvi, prepared by Father Sahagun in the six-
teenth century, and never previously printed. It is composed of
selections from the Bible in Nahuatl, with the vulgate translation
in an adjoining column. The editor adds a useful preface and a
comprehensive vocabulary, all in Latin. As Sahagun was per-
fectly acquainted with Nahuatl, we may accept his version of the
vulgate as a correct mirror of the native language such as it was
at the period of the conquest; though from the nature of his
subject it was necessarily forced into the expression of ideas for-
eign to the native mind.
This last objection, which is a serious one. does not apply to
a recent issue of the Musco Nacional oi Mexico. That institution
has lately completed the publication of a document known as the
Codex Chimalpopoca, or " The Annals of Cuauhtitlan." It is a
native composition of unknown authorship, of ancient date, and
treats of the precolumbian history of the country. Hence it is in
several respects a work of the first order of importance. It is ex-
tremely difficult to translate, and in many passages the text is
probably more or less corrupt. What is worse, the latter part of
the MS. in the hands of the Musco Nacional is said to be illegi-
ble, and the earlier part of the original text has been included in
their publication. There is, however, two perfect copies of this
Codex in the possession of M. Aubin, of Paris, and we may look
forward to a complete publication of it in the future.
Another work of similar character and probably not less valu-
able is that known as "The Annals of Chimalpahin." A partial
copy of these, also derived from the Aubin collection, where the
original and complete MS. exists, is now in the hands of M.Sim-
eon, who promises the publfcation of it as soon as his others la-
bors will admit. These Annals begin with the year 50 of our era,
which is interesting, but suggests some loose guessing on the
part of their author.
It would not be just to close this brief sketch of modern Na-
huatl studies without mentioning with particularity the zeal which
a number of learned Mexicans have recently exhibited in the cul-
THE STUDY OP THE NAHUATL LANGUAGE. 27
tivation of this beautiful and powerful tongue. For many years
Senor Joaquin Garcia Icazbalceta has been engaged in collecting
MS. and printed books in or relating to it. Many of these have
been utilized with great advantage by his brother-in-law, Sr.
Francisco Pimentel, in a standard work on the tongues of Mexico.
The late Sr. Gumesindo Mendoza, director of the Museo Nacion-
al, was a thorough Nahuatl scholar, and with the aid of Don
Sanchez Solis, also deceased, gave an independent rendering of
the Annals of Cuauhtitlin. The historian, Orozco y Berra, had
studied the native language diligently, and the fruit of his resarches
arc seen on many pages of his great work on the ancient history
of Mexico. Dr. Antonio Penafiel has very recently published a
careful analysis of Nahuatl proper names with their hieroglyphics,
and has in preparation a series of reprints and new publications
bearing on the tongue. In Guadalajara, professor Agustin de la
Rosa teaches, or until lately did teach, the old tongue in annual
courses of lectures ; and in the City of Mexico, Professor Troncoso
y Paso is a master of the idiom, and will, it is to be hoped, receive
a government appointment for giving regular instruction in it.
Other names might be mentioned, but these are sufficient to show
that the scholars of our sister republic are not unmindful of the
rich field offered to students in the investigation of this the an-
cient dominant tongue of their land.
Media, Pa. Daniel G. Brinton, M. D.
US THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN.
Correspondence.
INDIAN BURIALS.
Editor American Antiquarian:
The Pawnees about whom I know most, bury their dead ixnn\ a
foot to sixteen inches under ground, and build a mound of dirt
three to ^\\i^ feet over the grave. The burial ground is upon some
high mound or bluff and some distance from the village but al-
ways within sight of it.
There is great ceremony in burying a chief or head chief. When
one dies he is put into an Indian lodge where all the Indians of
the tribe are allowed to take a final look at the revered dead. So-
lemnity is preserved everywhere, no laughter or gaiety is express-
ed, even the children are not allowed to play or enjoy themselves,
and one passing through the village, were it not for the ponies,
would think it deserted. The bodv is held in state usually about
a day or a day and a half, then it is closely wrapped in a new red
blanket and placed in a box which is furnished by the Government
Agent, made of planed cottonwood timber. The box is much
larger than a coffin, but all extra space is taken up by eagle feath-
ers, bear claws, scalps, knives, revolvers, moccasins, and such other
articles as are thrown in by the friends of the dead chief. Often a
hundred or two dollars worth of Indian stuff is thrown into the
grave and coffin, and not many years ago it was frequent to see
two or three horses driven over the grave and shot down, but the
advance of civilization has increased the value of their ponies so
much that they feel unable to lose them, and then again the mis-
sionaries have taught them that the spirits of their horses do not
accompany the spirit chief to the happy hunting ground. After
the burial it is the duty of the squaw or squaws of the dead chief
to go to the grave at sunrise or sundown to sing their death songs;
this is kept up for three days, making in all six times the death
songs are heard. They are a wailing, mostly in monotone and
very pitiful to the ear. This is usually the full extent of the
mourning. The grave is covered with old axes, lariats, pocket
pins, grub))ing hoes, and such rude instruments as are used by the
squaws in raising their Indian maize. No foot board or headstone
is seen with inscriptions thereon, to tell whose grave it may be,
and in fact nothing that would indicate that he was anything but
a brave. They are true to the old ada^e that "' Six feet of earth
make all men of one size.'*
The ceremony of burying a brave is not so elaborate. Instead
INDIAN BURIALS. 2&
of so many visitors, only a few of the most intimate friends are
wont to call, and but few go to the buifial. I have known braves to
die and be buried without a single brave attending the funeral.
The dead is generally wrapped in a blanket, taken in a two-horse
waoron to the grave and buried by old squaws without ceremony
and without a coffin. The death songs are heard at sunrise and
at sundovyn, however, for the three days following. Old squaws
are the sextons and without a murmur they dig the graves and
bury the dead. The braves and young squaws, if there be any
present, stand about with dignified air, they utter not a word, shed
no tear, nor offer a helping hand. When a young woman or child
(lies the funeral is attended only by women and young people, oft-
en the father not being present. Few presents, if any, are thrown
into the grave and the mourning is of short duration. The bury-
ing of an old squaw is disgraceful. They are wrapped in an old
blanket and buried; not even her own children and near relatives
bcinji; present, and if it happens that she dies away from the vil-
lage the grave is dug a few feet from the corpse and she is rolled
in, and this ends it. Not even trouble is taken to remove her to the
burial ground. There is a superstition among the Pawnees that
if one death occurs in a lodge that others will follow in quick suc-
cession until the whole family is gone, for this reason no person is
allowed to die within the walls of a Pawnee lodge, for as soon as
the medicine men find there can be no cure for the patient he im-
mediately orders it taken out and smothered, but should the patient
die within, as sometimes occurs when patients die suddenly, the
lodge is deserted at once, torn down and allowed to remain for
some time exposed to the sun and weather then it is moved and
erected on other ground to be used as a dwelling.
The Osagcs bury on top of the ground, building a covering of
heavy stones to protect the body from buzzards and cayotes. Pro-
vision of all kinds to last nine days are placed with them, often
their hunting dogs being killed and thrown with them. When an
Osaore chief dies a party of his bravest young warriors, ten or
tH'elvc in number, are sent on what is termed " Hair Party." In
olden times it was a scalping party, but now that there are so
many soldiers they have modified it so that instead of taking the
scalp they only take the hair. The party is sent out without foo<l
with instructions to eat nothing until they return with hair. Often
they are out a week without foo<l. Now they attempt to buy the
hair by ofifering one or more ponies, to be allowed to cut the hair
from the head with a sharp knife. In 1879 ^ ^^^^^ party of Osages
took down the Simeroon river in search of hair; at that time Jno.
McClaskey was running a small movable saw mill, cutting out
lumber for the Pawnees. As soon as he saw them he knew their
mission from their red war paint and took precaution to put his
rifle within reach. They offered him three ponies for his hair; he
would take it if thev would allow him to cut it off, but this thev
would not do. They went off much out of patience as they had
now been out five days without success. They had not gone far
80 THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN
when they came up with a lone Pawnee, going to the agency
with a load of lumber. Without warning, they pounced upon him
and robbed him of his shining black braids. It came near causing
war between the two tribes, but the difficulty was finally settled
by their agents. I could relate other instances where they had
either bought or robbed people of their hair but I relate this one
only to illustrate how persistent they are in carrying out this one
superstitious idea.
They are very superstitious in reference to deaths. Every death
means something either good or bad. When they moved to the
Indian Territory in 1875 they fixed their reservation on a small
stream that emptied into the Simeroon and on the old Sac and
Fox* trail. They were not fairly settled when one of their prin-
cipal chiefs died ; this was a bad omen, they had not located wisely.
They concluded to move eighty miles north on the Arkansas riv-
er, where they are located to-day. The grave of the dead Osage
is still there and the creek is named council creek, in honor of the
big council held on its banks.
The Creeks and Chicasaws bury their dead barely under ground
and then construct a low house of slab boards to protect it from
vultures and wild beasts. They are in part civilized and conse-
quently many of them receive christian burial. Although all In-
dians have an idea of the hereafter, yet they have no thought of
• hell. They believe in a bad spirit but they think it follows us on-
Iv when alive and that after death all is happiness and peace.
G. Wm. Lillie, "Pawnee Bill."
Wellington, Kansas.
■0-
TIIE NATIONAL MUSEUM.
To the Kditor America?! Antiquariatt :
In the account of the year's work in anthropology, p. 370 of the
Amkuicax Antiql'auiax, the account of the National Museum
needs a little niodifyinj^. Anthropology as a whole is now covered
perfectly in the collections of the vSurgcon Gcnerars office and the
National Museum uiulcr the direction of the vSmithsonian Institu-
tion. Omittin'^ the fornier, for the present, I will give you the
status of the latter. Three separate departments of the Museum
are thoroughly orjj^anized with a full corps of skilled workmen.
I. Arts and Industries, presided over by Mr. (j. Brown Goode,
Assistant Director of the Museum.
II. Ethnology, includiuLi^ all modern, savage and barbarous tech-
nique, under the care of Prof. Otis T. Mason.
III. Antiquities, at the head of which is the Nestor of American
Archaiologists, Dr. Charles Ran.
In each of these departments some arts have grown so strong as
to stand alone and to be under special curators. Indeed it is con-
templated to develop each important human industry in this direc-
• .t
f
THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 81
tion until it can stand alone. Already we have in full operation:
Textiles and Tools, under Prof. Romyn Hitchcock.
Ceramics, under Mr. Wm. H. Holmes.
Fisheries and Fishing, under Mr. R. H. Earll.
Navigation, under Capt. Collins and Ensign Hayden.
Models and Casts of Antiquities, under Mr. C. Mindeleff.
Historic Relics, Medals, Coins, under A. Howard Clark.
To these several collections are many contributors, among which
the government surveys. Bureau of Ethnology, Army, Navy, Rev-
enue, Marine, Signal Service, Consular Service stand preeminent.
There is no lack of generosity on the part of private citizens, so
that every American may now be proud of his National Museum.
Very truly yours,
O. T. Mason.
THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION.
To the Editor American Antiquariaji :
The subject of Anthropology is organized in the Museums of
Washington as follows:
The Army Medical Museum receives all specimens relating to
human anatomy, including crania, skeletons, and soft parts. These
in addition to the Library of the Surgeon General's OfHce form
the best material for the study of the American stand point of Bi-
ology. All objects of this character received by the Smithsonian In-
stitution and National Museum are deposited in the collection of the
Surgeon General. Those Anthropologists who wish to study this
hranch of the subject find at the Surgeon Cienerars Office all the
material that is needed in their work. Drs. Billings and Matthews
have recently introduced the most refined apparatus, procured in
Europe, for anthropometric measurements, and have been making
experiments in the cubage of the skull by means of water; in the
racasurement of the time of various mental operations, and in com-
posite photography.
All of the linguistic material of the National Museum and Smith-
sonian Institution is consigned to the Bureau of Ethnology. In the
National Museum proper, the whole subject of comparative tech-
nology is now under control as follows:
All archaeological material is placed under the direction of Dr.
Charles Rau, Curator of the Department (>f Antiquities. The
material under the charge of Dr. Rau is arranged in classes by
form and function, and in each class the growth or evolution of
that form and its geographical distribution are exhibited. vSo that
if one would study knives, pipes, etc., it is only necessary to go to
the victrines containing those objects to learn the life historv of that
form, and localities in which it is found.
In the Department of Ethnology the subject of every Jiuman ait
is represented. While the primary concept is the same here as in
32 THE AMERICA.X ANTIQUARIAN.
the Department of Antiquities, the subject of race — geographical
distribution and their entire history — receive proper attention. In
one hall type specimens of all human arts are exhibited, and when-
ever sufficient material of one type has accumulated to give that
subject proper installation, as in the case of fishing, music, naviga-
tion, basketry, etc., a sufficient amount of the material is w'^ithdrawn
to exhibit that subject in its totality. The same is true of any tribe
of men. Whenever any material accumulates so as to give the
proper exhibition of the life of any tribe, it is set apart for such
exhibition.
Within the past year the Curator has gotten control of the en-
tire collections of the Smithsonian Institutions, National Museum,
and Bureau of Ethnology and many private contributions to the
Museum.
The subject of arts and industries or the perfection of aboriginal
arts in the industry of higher peoples has also received a great
amount of attention. In the past year the collections of the Cen-
tennial Exhibition were available for this purpose, and many ob-
jects of great value were received at the New Orleans Centennial.
Students of anthropology visiting the Museum will now find it in
their power to study any branch of the subject, in any line which
they wish to pursue, as the material has been arranged in cabinets
for examination.
I am verv trulv vours,
O. T. Mason.
THE BUREAU OF ETHNOLOGY.
The liurcau of Ethnology is established by Congress for the pur-
pose of pursuing ethnologic and archieologic studies among the North
American Indians. The work has been from its commencement un-
der the immediate charge of !Major J. W. Powell as director. It may
be conveniently considered under the heads of " Field work " and
" Office work." An important division under the first head is that
of mound explorations, which is under the charge of Prof. Cyrus
Thomas, with an efficient corps of assistants. Since the organiza-
tion of the division explorations have been made in Wisconsin,
along both banks of the Mississippi, thence south to the Arkansas
River, including parts of Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Mississippi and
Arkansas; also Eastern Tennessee, Northern Georgia, Western
North Carolina and the Kanawha Valley of West Virginia. A
very large number of articles, embracing every type foimd in the
mounds, as well as instructive specimens obtained from Indian
graves and on the sites of the old Indian villages, have been col-
lected and deposited in the National Museum. All the specimens
are properly labeled and numbered from the time when they are
found in the field imtil they receive the catalogue number of the
National Museum, in which, by law, all are deposited. A separate
THE BUUEAL OF ETHNOLOGY. 83
catalogue gives the locality where each specimen was ol)tained,the
name of the collector ami the environment of each specimen.
Another division consists of explonitions in the Southwest under
the general direction of Mr. James Stevenson. The field of these
investijjations has heen chieflv in Arizona and New Mexico amonjjf
the ruined and modern puehlos and so-called cliff dwellings. An
immense collection of pottery, stone implements and other objects
illustrative of the life of the existing and former inhabitants of
these regions has been made and chussified. Surveys and models
of the more important ruins have been prepared by Air. Victor
Mindeleff, and many photographs of interesting ruins and scenes
have been obtained by Mr. J. K. Hillers. These models and pho-
tographs have heen exhibited not only in the National Museum,
hut in the large expositions held at various places in the country.
Under the head of field work is also comprised linguistic and all
other anthropologic researches iti which all the persons connected
with the Bureau are engaged. Their several publications, actually
produced in the office at Washington, and therefore classed as office
work, are based upon their previous researches in the field, supple-
mented by the studv of all available material in literature and in
museums. This mutual relation of field and office work is exem-
plified by the important contributions of Mr. Frank H. Cushing,
who has for several vears resided amonj; the Zunis, where he has
made a profound and exhaustive study of their language, mythol-
ogy, sociology and tradition^. He has published several papers on
these subjects, and is now jj.jparing others.
An important, indeed fundamental, object of the Bureau from
its establishment has been: first, to prepare a series of charts
showing the habitat of all the tribes when first met by Europeans,
and at subsequent eras ; second, a dictionary of their synonymy
which should refer their multiplied and confusing titles as given in
literature and varying usage to a correct and systematic standard of
nomenclature; third, a classification on a linguistic basis, of all the
known Indians of North America. The linguistic classification
precedes the whole of this work and the diflficulties attending it
have, at times, suspended its satisfactory progress until expeditions
of research had ascertained facts required. These have been made
in various parts of the country by Messrs. Dorsey, Gatschet, Hen-
shaw, Curtin, Mrs. Erminnie Smith, Dr. Matthews and Dr. Hoff-
jnan, who have all assisted the personal work of the Director, Ma-
jor Powell, in this endeavor, Ixvsides attending to their special
branches of work hereinafter noted. The classification is now con-
sidered to be at least tentatively established, based upon which over
20,000 cards of synonymy have been prepared.
The special linguistic division confided to Rev. J. Owen Dorsey
is that of the Siouan, more generally called the Dakotan, stock.
He has been completing the dictionary and grammar of the Digiha
{Ponca and Omaha) language and has also been engaged in a
Kansas dictionary, and in carrying through the press a new edition
of the Dakota dictionary of Rev. S. R. Riggs.
U THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN
Mr. Albert S. Gatschet has been specially engaged in preparing
a dictionary and grammar of the Klamath language.
Mrs. Erminnie A. Smith has been occupied upon the Iroquoin
dialects.
Dr. Washington Matthews, U. S. A., is preparing a grammar
and dictionary of the Navajo language.
Mr. Jeremiah Curtin has directed attention to the Muskoki or
Creek language, and has taken vocabularies of the tribes in Cali-
fornia and Oregon.
Colonel Garrick Mallcry, besides other duties as Ethnologist, has
been engaged in the study of pictographs and the sign language
commenced bv him when on active military service. Several com-
prehensivc and illustrated papers upon these subjects, by him, have
been published, and another is now in type. He has lately been
assisted in the above mentioned work by Dr. W. J. Hoffman.
Mr. James C. Pilling is continuing to perfect the bibliography
of North American languages, a preliminary edition of w^hich for
the use of collaborators only has been issued.
Mr. Charles C. Royce is now completing a historical atlas, giv-
ing a complete history of the official relations which have existed
between the government of the United States and the various In-
dian tribes from the beginning of the Federal period to the present
time.
Mr. Henry W. Hcnshaw, in addition to active work upon the
synonymy before mentioned, is charged with a report upon Indian
industries, which will explain the means of subsistence of the sev-
eral tribes and trace their advance toward civilization.
Mr. William H. Holmes has supervised the illustrations of the
publications of the Bureau, many of which he has personally pre-
pared, and has general charge of the collections made under it, in
connection with which charge he is honorary curator of pottery in
the National Museum.
Dr. II. C. Yarrow is still engaged on a monograph upon the
mortuary customs of the North American Indians and in preparing
a paper on their medical practices.
The Bureau invites the assistance of students and specialists not
immediately connected with it. Papers prepared by such contrib-
utors have bccn,and others will, in the future, be published. Among
such papers already published are those of Dr. Robert Fletcher,
U. S. A., on " Prehistoric trephining and cranial amulets;" that by
Dr. Charles Rau entitled "Observations on cup-shaped and other
lapidarian sculptures;" and by Mr. William H. Dall on "Masks,
labrets and certain aboriginal customs."
The only regular publications of the Bureau yet provided for by
law are the Annual Reports, three volumes of which have been is-
sued. The fourth and fifth are in press. These large octavo vol-
umes contain, not only the oficial report of the Director, but papers
exhibiting original research and study in the line directed by the
National Legislature. Among these are several important and
original papers by the Director, Major Powell, whose researches
MOr.^D KKPLORATION8 IN 1885. 89
jimI luUcclions in nnlhropology preceded by a niiinbcr of yc;irs the
i:<blilishmcnt tif the Bureau. The Reports sn far iKsuccI arc ad-
■nirably prinlcd and copiously IlluMratcd, reflecting high credit, not
iiiilv upon the Bureau iiml the public printer, but upon Congress,
hj- which proper recognition has been given to what is now the
^ ^iMpuhir branch of science. T. M.
report
OirsD EXPLORATIONS IN 1885, UNDER THE ETH-
NOLOGICAL BUREAU.
per American Aiiliqitarian:
^»cnd yoa n few notes from Mr. Emmcrt's preliminary 1
is cxptorntions under the Burenu of Ethnology in the wi
P of your Slate. I would send with them Mr. Middlcion's
■jf interesting notes of his survey of the groups alluded to, but
would not be understood without the plats and diagrams
bch aecompsny them, which have not yet received Mr. Middle-
Inn's finnl revisal. I hope to send some of these as soon as they
111^ completed and the finished drawings are made.
Mr, Emmcrt gives the following nccuunt of some mounds of
"it Fliicke group which he excavated.
"Thi'' group which consists of twelve mounds is situated on the
' iiHi n{ Mr, Joseph Fluckc two miles south of Prairie du Chien,
iiil about one mile from the mouth of the Wisconsin river."
"Mound No, I on the diagram sent herewith [not given hcrej
^ ■!> of the usual low conical form, 65 feel in diameter and six feet
|ii;li. This I excavated by first cutting a trench twelve feet wide
' '"Ugh it from north to south. I found it composed of black
■miy «oil, without stratification except near the bottom, where I
■ ind thin streaks or layers of darker earth irregularly placed, of
iiitcd ektent and not exceeding two inches in thickness. As I
'^iiuaehed the center of the mound I noticed that the black earth
' _'Jn lo dip below the natural surface of the gronnd, This I
■!'wl wjs in con.sequcnce of an excavation in the original surface
K u feet in diameter and a little over a foot in depth, go-
['< ihe yellow sand. In the center of this excavation, which
!i' center of the mound, were three skeletons resting on
111 but immediately under each was a thin layer of darker
I vti) hiird earth. The bones were very much decayed. Skel-
' '> Nu. I was lying HoriKontally on the buck, head east, elbows ex-
iiiIh) .ind hands turned towauls the head. Near each hand w.is
-...!.. .;^j. large obsidian spear head, remarkably symmetrical in
' 'H'lisiiring nine inches in length. I also found near the
I- two spool-shaped copper ornaments one on each side
i I w the jaw which induced mc to believe they had been
ornaments."
tkcletnn No. 2 v
s lying v.
t to No.
1 the
orth side,
36 THE AMERICAN -ANTIQUARIAN.
the bones much decayed. • No specimens of anv kind were found
with it." ^ ■ ■ ■
"Skeleton No. 3 was also stretched out horizontally with the head
north-cast. T found ashes and small pieces of charcoal around and
on top of this skeleton, and the bones were burnt and charred from
the head to the hips, in some places the ashes — which seemed to be
nearly all on the top of, or beside the bones, not under them — formed
a layer an inch thick or more. The skull was crushed to pieces and
blackened and charred by the tire which had eyidently been kin-
dled on this skeleton after it was deposited here and after the flesh
had been removed. In the layer of ashes coverit)^ the burned
bones I found the copper beads which haye been forwarded to
you."
"I then worked over the remainder of the mound without And-
ing: anvthin<T more of interest. This mound like the rest of the
j^roup stands on the prairie formin«f the first bottom of the Missis-
sippi river, about midway between the river and the bluff."
"I next opened mound No. 3 which stands on the same level 620
feet from No. i. This was about five and a half feet hi«^h and sixty
feet in diameter. Cutting a broad trench throu<!^h it I found there was
an excavation in the ori^^inal surface like that in No. i. In this ex-
cavation was a confused mass of bones in a close, compact heap,
not more than two or three feet in length. I was somewhat sur-
prised that no part of a skull was to be discovered, though among
them a few teeth were found. These bones must have been de-
posited after the flesh had bc^n removed."
"Mounds 3 and 4 of this group were explored with similar results."
"Three mounds of the so-called "Vilas group" near the conflu-
ence of the Wisconsin and the Mississippi rivers, were also explor-
ed, but in these, though having the excavations in the original sur-
face of the ground, there were no other indications of burial. Pos-
sibly the bodies had been removed by those who deposited tlum-
here for a general burial at some other place."
"I then returned to the Flucke group and opened No. 5, a beau-
tiful mound measuring sixty -eigth feet in diamater and seyen feet
high. Through this I carried a trench fourteen feet wide. About
the center was a fimnel shaped mass of gravel, (largest at
top) extending downward from the surface of the momul to the
depth of three feet. In this gravel bed 1 found the crumbling
bones of a small child. The bones were so thorougly decayed
that none could be removed, save one side of the skull, which had
been preserved by some copper ornaments that lay against it.
These copper ornaments consisted of a bracelet made of two strips
twisted together — and a close coil of wire. This must haye been an
intrusive burial, as all the mound, except this funnel shaped mass of
gravel consisted of black sandy soil."
"At the bottom of the mound were more human bones, but thev
were so far decayed that I was unable to determine whether they
pertained to one or two skeletons. No relics of any kind were
found with them. The (Miginal surface had been scooped out to*
• THE MUSEUM. 37
the depth of one foot. I noticed that thcfi-J lower bones did not
Ik immediately on the bottom of the excavation but rested on a
l»vcr of black ciirth sonic three or four inches thick which was
verj- liard und tough. The remainder of the mound was worked
mer without finding anything further of interest or any mdications
of other burials."
Yours Truly,
Washiiigton, D. C. Oct. 15, 'S5. Cvnts Thomas.
The Museum.
ANTIQUITY OF THE UMBFfELLA.
In his interesting notes on V/nircnas,\n the July number of Tie
Afuseum magazine, Mr. Ilcnrv PhillipK,Jr.,
larks: " Upon the coins of Herod Ag-
rippa the younger appears something very
I like an umbrella, with the inscription * Ba-
\ sileos AgHp^ and on the reverse three ears
:orn Spinhcim bLlic\cs this to re pre
/ sent the tibtimck 01 tent of the Ismclitc,
al1udm<r to their fetst of Pentet-ost The
ears of corn m n icfcr dso to the simc
ftist, in which hist fiuits wtii. oftcre<l "
IVi- reproduce here the illustr itions \\ hieh iccomp ni\ the irticlc
'"which reference IS midc The second cngrunig lepreseiits i
S»incsc coin of the present dvmstj, show n^ the roj il crown be
•»t«i two parasols of St-itc On
"le reverse is the figure of in ele
phanl.
The umbrcll 1 w js not onl} icp
'Wented on coins, but also m auticnt
"oilplureB. On the side of i superb ;
**r<»phagus, found 55 feet bene ith
'he surface of the ground b\ tii-n 1 ]
"IjCesnota, at Ainathus, 1 Plifrni
^ city of Cyprus, can cd in 1 irge
•ilurcsimd in high relief, irc two
^ariots, one of them connmmg
'*n men and drawn by t^vo horses.
The attendant behind holds an urn- coiNOfsiAM. KEnixF.n,
^tlia over the head of the driver. Ths work of art, supp:isi;d to
88 THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN.
be upwards of 2,500 years of age, may now be seen in the Mctro-
potitait Museum of Art, New York City.
MINUTE SHELL BEADS.
In a collection of antiquities recently received from San Miguel
Island, California, were numerous minute white discs, scarcely the
size of an ordinary pin's head, with accurate central perforations.
These were submitted to several eminent scientists who at first pro-
nounced them segments of recent erinoidal branches or of some
other radiate. A careful examination of a conglomerate mass of
these objects, however, revealed their artificial origin. It is safe to
" ^ say that they are the smallest specimens of
wrought shell beads ever discovered amongst
aboriginal remains. The tiny perforations
were made by delicate, three-sided, finely-
pointed flint awls, many of which have re-
cently been found in ancient graves on the
California coast. The accompanying cut shows two of these awls
and a string of the beads which have been cemented together by
the decomposed sinew on which they were sti-ung and the fatty
excretions of the skin of the wearer.
COLLECTORS 'VXD COLLECTIONS.
'Vn indu'-trious collcctoi of Indiin intiquitics is Mr. Wm. W.
\d un*., of M iplcton, X ^ 1 bt, hist specimen be procured was
^n inlcrc-tniT cH\ pipe which he found in February,
n lrdiin„'i n». on the farm of E. P. Hiiskins,
nt Scipin Cuugi L iint\,\ V. His collection of
intiqiuliL 11 iw minihcis mou than 4,000 specimens,
iiithuhii^ LM-j 1 hi L pipf!, one wilh a human face;
cilliiiitL ptinliiits ihout 1,200 shell and catlinite
be id-., "ioiiic of them ^vc inehes in
hti^th, bchidt-s I large number of oth-
er desirable thmgs. The pipe first al-
ludtd to, and which is here figured,
ibout six inches in length.
The front of the howl rcprese
bird. This pipe is one of the fin
is of the curved or trumpet form
A KiNE collection of Lancaster county (Pa.) relics is owned by
Prof. P. C Hillcr, of Conestnga, Pa. It consists of 9,000 specimens.
Amongst the rarer example!! > ■ ' > t •
the liciid and beak of a large
ever found in that section, and
in New York State.
wAamber, ceremo-
THE MUSEUM. 8e
nial'badges, tablets with one to four perforations, slate tubes, sink-
ers, diseoidal stones, heads of biixls, animals and human beings
and pipes of stone and clay.
Prof. D. B. Brunner, ot Reading, Pa., has a collection of an-
tiquities from Berks county, numbering over 6,000 pieces, including
10 ornaments, 23 pestles, 60 axes and 72 hammers.
Mr. a. G. Richmond, of Canajoharic, N. Y., is the owner of
one of the most extensive collections of aboriginal relics in that
State. It would be impossible to do justice to this collection in the
space at our command, but we may mention in particular a large
and valuable series of curious and unique pipes of clay and stone;
diseoidal stones highly polished ; valuable vases and stone images
from ancient Mexico; groups of antiquities from ancient graves m
California and ruined buildings in New Mexico, Utah and Arizo-
na; a large number of unusually fine ceremonial ornaments of all
known types; a superb «tone axe weighing nearly ten pounds and
measuring a foot in length ; a human skull with stone arrow-heads
imbedded in it; a mortar made from the vertebra of a whale; and
last, biit not least, a curious, old, Dutch stone-ware jug, with the
date 1630, from an Indian grave.
RARITIES.
Rev. W. M. Beauchamp has found portions of barbed fish-
hooks on prehistoric sites in New York State.
Hox. R. S. Robertson, of Fort Wayne, Ind., has in his posses-
sion a fine, large pipe, carved from a hard stone, in the form of a sit-
ting bird. The bowl rises from the centre of the back. It was found
in digging a drain on a farm near the site of an old Indian village
in the south-western part of the county. The peculiarity of this
pipe is the date, 1776, which has been scratched on the side, near
the stem orifice, which passes through the tail.
NOTES.
Early European clay pipe bowls continue to be found amongst
Indian remains in various sections of North America. One re-
cently discovered in Montgomery county, N. Y., possessed a heel-
stamp consisting of a circle enclosing the letters n o, beneath a
crown. In British Columbia Mr. James Deans found amongst ab-
original remains, a portion of an old French pipe made of red clay.
Rev. W. M. Be auch amp reports that near Baldwinsville, N. Y.,
a white clay pip<i was thrown out of a rat's hole at the base of a
cellar wall in an old farm house. The shallow bowl is grooved
iaside, dotted without, and ornamented with oak leaves and acorns
in relief. The inscription on the stem is " L. Fiolet, St. Omer,
40 THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN.
Brevet, S. C. D. G." It was probably dropped by a mason when
the walls of the house were being laid.
A CORRESPOXDEXT calls attention to the. existence of a large
area of territory lying south- wcstof Petersburgh^ 111., and extending
from the mouth of the Sangamon river to that of the Illinois, in
which are vast numbers of artificial mounds which have never been
explored.
[Written for The Museum.}
THE INDIANS OF PUGET SOUND, WASH. TER.
UTENSILS FOR EATING AND DRINKING.
PLATES.
These are of wood, and in general are somewhat like a shallow
wooden tray, from ten to twelve inches wide, an inch and a
quarter to two inches deep, and a foot and a half or two feet long.
For feasts, however, they are much longer, the longest regular
one which I have seen being about six feet. I once, however,
saw a rough one about twenty-four feet long filled with food and
set before a row of people. I have also seen them made of six
inch boards, twelve feet long, nailed together somewhat on the
style of a pig's trough, and full of food. When all these fail, how-
ever, a mat will suffice, on which thev lav their food. Their
DISHES
are deeper than their plates and generally narrower, and made both
of wood and horn. Generally the wooden ones are three or four
inches deep, six or seven inches wide and from six inches to four
feet long. They are dug out of the wood. These are used fully
as much for holding fish and seal oil as for food. Dishes are also
imported from those Indians who live in the mountains, made from
the horn of the mountain sheep, which are about six inches long,
seven wide and three deep. They, as well as many of the wooden
ones, are often carved with varicms rough figures on the outside.
Those which come from British Columl)ia are In' far the best made,
some of the wooden ones being inlaid with shells. I have one
such which is a foot long and nine inches wide. I have fouml a
solitary stone dish. It is in tl.c shr.pe of a (uiartcr of a sphere, six
inches in diameter.
SPOONS
were made l)()th of wood and the horns of cattle, the latter being
preferred as stronger. These, however, were not attainable by the
Sound Indians previous to the introduction of cattle by the whites,
except as a few from the horn of the mountain sheep were obtained
from the Indians of British Columbia. The bowl of the spoon is
: THE MUSEUM. 41
usually five or si?c inches. long, three or four wide and from three-
fourths of an inch to an inch* deep. The hamlles are commonly
three or four inches long, .but occasionally only an inch or two.
The handle sometimes terminates in a small head. Smaller spoons
arc made for children. It is not always, however, that these large
spoons are put into the mouth. They simply raise them full of
soup or other food to their mouths, and then with a small stick two
or three inches long and about as large as a pencil, they poke the
food within. Greasy food, however, needed
NAPKINS,
and they were not devoid of this article of civilized life. They
were made of cedar bark, beaten fine, and tied into small bunches
about two feet long, and were used to wipe both mouth and hands.
At one time after a fejist I saw two men stand, one at each end of
the row of perhaps thirty men who had been eating, stretch apiece
of calico forty feet or. more long, whirl it from behind the men
over their heads in front of them, when all wiped their hands and
mouths at once, iifter which it was whirled back again.
WATER-BUCKETS.
These were made of wood and looked much like a box, or cube.
They are scarce now. Those which I have seen were about eight
iriches square, with a hole in the centre at the top, into which the
water was poured, and another one at one corner, out of which it
was poured. The foiu* sides were made of a single board. Where
a comer was to be, a small part was mitred out on both the inside
and out, and then steamed so as to bend square. It is a difficult job
to cut the mitres at the three corners so that when bent they will
be water-tight. It is as difficult to join the two ends of this board
together at the fourth corner, and fasten them with wooden pegs
so as to he water tight, and also fasten on the top and bottom in the
same way so that these will also be water tight.
WATER BASKETS
are made of roots and grass. They are sewed through r.nd through,
each round being thoroughly sewed to the one beneath it. These
have no cover, and are more convenient for some things than the
buckets, as juicy berries can easily be put into them, and water can
t»c Warmed in them by heating stones and putting them into the
^vatcr; but the buckets excluded the dirt and the water was much
les»s likely to be spilled from them. M. Eelt.s.
(Written for The Museum.]
HOW THE WHULL-E-MOOCII GOT FIRE.
Over thirtv years ajjo, while collcctinjL>: the Iceendarv lore of the
*V nullemooch, the.natignal name of the various tribes who live on
the north-western coast of. Washington Territory, the adjoining
ones of British Columbia and the south-western end of \^an-
L
42 THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN.
couvcr Island, I fouiid many a ciirions story, ^nd amongst them the
following, which I send, believing that one of these funny old le-
gt^nds now and again ' would be highly Amusing to your young
readei^ at least,' if not' to the older ohbs. ' '
THE LKGEND.
" The old folk§ toU us," said the old man from whom I had this
story, "that very long ago the Whullemooch (dwellers on Whull,
Puget Sound, W. T.) had no fire. All their tbod was eaten raw,
their evenings were dull iind* cheerless — without fire and without
light. One day wHM6 a'nuniber of these {>eople were seated on the
grass having a fneal of raw flesh, a pretty bird >Vith a shining tail
came and hove'red 'aroifhd theni.' After'arfrtiiring its beautiful plu-
mage, some one' said,' '♦'Pretty " bird,' what' d6 you want ? Pretty
bird, wheredp ybii ccWit f rt)m ?" - *1 cahie*,' fe^lied the bird, 'from
a beautiful cbiintry ia'r 'away,'brfn]^ing" yoti all the blessings of
Hicuc (fire). That which you see about my tail is fire. I have
come to give it to the children of the Whullemooch conditionally.
First you must, in order to talue it, earn it. Again, no one who
has been guilty of a bad deed, or of -a moim action need try for it.
To-day get ready, each lOf you, some Chummuch ( pitch pine ). To-
morrow morning I shall bo here, with you/ . When it came next
morning it said, ' Have all oi you. got some chummuch?' ' Yes,'
said all. ' I go,' said the bird, '*'aml whosoever catches me and puts
his chummuch on my tail shall obtain a blessing, a something
whereby to .warm himself or herself, cook his food and do many a
service to himself and t(ji the childreu- o£ the Whullemooch for ever.
I go.' It went; every mau and woman, boy and girl of the tribe
followed helter-skelter, some laughing, some shouting, others in
their heedless haste fell over rocks into water holes, got torn and
scratched by bushes iuul thorns, Some who lacked perseverance
turned back and went home, saying anything so beset with trouble
and danger was not worth the trying for. All of the hunters were
getting tired and hungry, when one of the men came near the bird
and tried to catch it, but the bird eluded his grasp, saying, ' You
can never get the prize: you arc too selfish. You don't care for
any one, whether sick or hungry, so long as you arc right yourself.'
With that away flew the bird and another man took up the chase.
Hearing what was said to the other, he changed his tactics, saying,
' Pretty birdie, let me catch you; I never did anything bad or mean.
If ever I saw anv one hunj^rv or thirstv I <rave them silthtun (footl
and drink) or if I could I gave them a skin or a blanket.' 'All you
say is good, but in one point you fail: You stole your neighbor's
wife bv flatterv.' This savinjr, awav went the bird, a number still
following. Passing a woman nursing a sick old man, she said,
' Pretty bird, I cannot follow vou ; won't you come to me and give
me your hieuc?' * What good have you clone,' said the bird, 'that
vou should ijet it?' 'I have done nothinc: but what was mv dutv
always to do,' replied the woman. ' Good woman,' said the bird,
'you are always doing good, thinking it only your duty. Bring
your wood, put it on my tail and take the fire. It is justly yours.'
;' .
THE MUSEUM. 48
When/the wood was laid on the bi'rdf's tail it blazed up. All the
others brought their chummuch and got fire from her. From then
until now we have liiever been without "fire. ' We took care of it
because we fouiid the good ot it So, Nay Minnay (my child),
that is how the Whullemooch got their life."' «' Nl^ Tatuja" (my
father), said 1, " whiat became of tbc bird?"' '* After ^that it flew
away and was never agam seen.'* "' • • Ja'mes Deans.
J ' • ' -' : .111
/.' ••• ■ . •;,'.,.. ii .1 .'/j
f
■ . I • V . : ... • • • I -■ ( ...■.«'«>»'■'•• •
[Written for Xhe iyii{S9Vfin.]
THE STORY OF ^'V PRPiK^N. ^'XQNE.
Ill • ■, I
Where a great ^p,vcl bank, »'4^ being c(ii;ted.aw;jiy, 1 had been
lingering for d^ys,^^ the .watch fpr. broken stpjics. Ever and anon
a split pebble would roll frpm the banH,,.bkut this was not what I
wanted. Frost is a good stone; breaker,, bu^tjipes not break them as
I required for th.e purpose of a startling dcn}9n^t;"afi9n : none other
than that man was older than the time when this great bed of gravel
came down from the riycr valley beyond to the broad plain where
we now find it.
Now, so far as broken stonea^ gfc concerned, it may be said that
natural agencies can break them into innumerable shapes, which is
very ti"ue ; and yet there are those Mjjiich have been shaped by
breaking from them, here and thefc.a piecCj. in a manner beyond
the known powers of nature; and so we arc led to consider the
lUJxt known agency ever brought tK^ bear on stones— that of man's
skin.- '...■'_■
The one prominent difference between a naturally and an artifi-
cially broken stone is this:, that when man undertook to break a
pebble it was to alter its shape and convert it into something better
adapted to his uses than any chance splitting or detaching of a sin-
gle chip would render any stone. Hence, such stones have invari-
ably many pieces detached, and each flake removed bore a direct
relation to those nearest to it, and the ultimate result was a pebble
or fragment of rock with little or none of its original surface re-
maining, and such an altered stone possesses either a sharp point or
cutting edge, or both. The accompanying illustration more clearly
expresses my meaning.
I had been long looking for such an object and at last one came
to light. Do not think it discouraging to have to search for several
days for a single broken stone. There is no royal road to archaeo-
logical knowledge, and particularly if the student has a desire to
learn something of that vague creature — paleolithic, or most ancient
of stone-age man — ho mst be willing to labor long and fortify him-
self against faint-heartedness. Such rudely-shaped stones have been
found; many more will be found, and this is the wondrous story
that thev tefl :
In that distant long ago, when our climate was much like that of
Greenland, and when the mastodon, reindeer, moose and probably
41
THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN.
musk-ox roamed through our forests, and when the walrus sported
in the icy waters of our sea-coast, the valley of the present Dela-
ware river, from a little north of the head of tide water to the fountain
h^ad of the stream, and far beyond, was covered with a mighty
field of ice known as a glacier, or, more strictly, a combination of
them, forming an ice sheet. This ice, like water," but very slowly,
moved southward and oceaiiward to a certain line across the coun-
try, and there, after remaining an undetermined period, began
slowly to melt away. In its onward course it pushed before it and
carried in its mass an enormous amoimt of fragments <)f every rock
exposed to its resistless progress; and where the frozen flood at last
stood fast there was accumulated a vast ridge of clay, sand, pebbles
and boulders heaped promiscuously together. This ridge is known
to geologists as the " terminal moraine."
Now, as the great icc-shcet melted, there was, of course, an
enormously flooded river, which flowed many feet above the level
of the stream to-day. The melting of a single winter's accumula-
tion of snow often brings us a freshet twenty feet or more above
the high-water mark; so, remembering this, it is easy to sec how
the ucciimtdation of centuries of snow and ice, which every winter
was something in excess of the simimev's thawing, shotdd cause
and continue a Hood far greater than any known in historic times.
At present when the rii
or April, there is always ;
toward the sea, and the lo
and even large stones, sc
in some mountain hro[>k a
cr "bleaks up," as it is called, in March
vast volume of muddy waters rushing
ise cakes of ice enclose manv a pebble,
that a stone that lasl autumn was lying
hundred or more miles from sea, may
now, a few months later, be deeply buried in the oo/es of the At-
hmtie. I'recisely the same thinjj took place when there were gla-
cial conditions, but on a far larger scale; ami the rocks and sand
brought down from the lerniiuaj moraine, <)f which I spoke, were
carried to the Jiead of tide water, and there, ineeting with quiet
watci-s, the onward rush was checked and tlic );i*cat bulk of the
transported material was deposited. For neiirly fifty miiei it eamc
THE MUSEUM. 45
" ' ' ' .
through a wooded valley and often animals were caught in the
flood and hurried down the stream in the same manner as were the
sand and bowlders. How do we know this? Simply because we
find their bones in the gravels, and we know that there was a vast
tract of heavily timbered, habitable land skirting the river at that
time, and extending far out beyond the present line of our sea-coast.
I think it is now clear how our northern rivers came to have
gravel in their beds, and why bluffs of the same form their banks in
many places.
Hringing together our several facts, we have, first, the rudely
broken stones, and secondly, the bones of animals known only to
cold climates. These are mingled together, and we rightly infer
that these animals lived at the time when the gravel was being de-
posited, and as man broke the stones I have mentioned, he too,
existed so long ago.
This may seem a little startling, but the most competent judges,
both mineralogists and archaeologists, declare that no known force
in nature could have broken these stones as we find them, and so
they have indeed a wonderful history: telling of man at a time
when the climate of Pennsylvania was an arctic one, and that state
was peopled by a race clearly similar to modern Eskimos, and
w^here the city of Philadelphia now stands hunted the reindeer, the
seal and the walrus, and lived, when on shore, in terror of the mas-
todon, then the mightiest of beasts.
ClIAllLES C. AlJIlOTT, M. D.
RECENT PUBLICATIONS.
BnUetin of the Minnesota Academy of Natural /Sciences, Minneapolis, Miuu.,
1880-1882.
Amongst other papers it contains one entitled * 'Whence came the different
species or x'arieties of man," by A. E. Johnson; also " Notes on some pieces of
pottery and native alum from White Fish Lake," by C. W. Hall, and a Report
of the section of Mineralogy, by Prof. N. H. Winehell. in which are presented
some interesting faets about Catliniie or opwayonite, used by the Indians for
making pipes. — Minneapolis, 18S5.
The Smitlisoman Report for 1883, recently issued, contains a resum{5 of An-
thropological literature for that year, by Prof. Otis T. Mason, besides a large
amount of other matter of archo^ologicul interest. E. A, B.
m THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN.
» I I
Editorial.
ARE THE DAVENPORT TABLETS FRAUt>S?
The discussion over these tablets has begun afresh and does not
now seem likely. to cease until the mystery about them is cleared
up. These tablets were first discovered in a mound near Daven-
port. They consist of two slabs of coal ^late, one of them 8 or lo
inches wide and 12 inches long, inscribed on both sides; the other
is inscribed only on one side and is smaller, being 7 inches on each
side and having a thickness of f^ of an inch. The larger stone
contains what is called the " cremation scene " on one side and the
*' hunting scene" on the other. The smaller contains what is called
the Calendar.
They were discovered on the evening of January 10, 1877. The
following are the circumstances of the discovery as narrated by
Rev. Mr. Gass. Particular attention is called to the details, for in
the description we shall get evidence that deception has been prac-
ticed and that " a plant " has been perpetrated. We shall use the
language of the explorer, for though he does not seem to have
suspected anything, this is the evidence we depend upon. His lan-
guage is simple and unstudied and gives every evidence of honesty,
but we read between the lines. He says,' "On the loth of Janu-
ary I commenced work, assisted by Messrs. Willrodt and Stoltze-
nau, aided also by five other men, whose curiosity attracted them
to the spot. Commencing on the north side of the mound, about
15 feet north-west of the grave A, and, as we afterward found,
about 6 feet from the gravel B. We made an opening several feet
in diameter. Five or six inches below the surface we came upon
a shell layer (c), i or 2 inches in thickness, which sloped down-
ward toward the south-east, until at a distance of 4 or 5 feet it
reached the depth of 2 feet, or rather more, from the surface. Be-
tween the surface and this first layer of shells, a number of human
bones were found, scattered through the soil; also, a number of
stones^ which, as was afterwards observed, were more numerous
over the middle of the grave B. Associated with these bones,
which, like those on the other side of the mound, were doubtless
of modern times, we found a few glass beads and fragments of
a brass ring. This layer of shells rested upon a stratum of
earth from 12 to 15 inches in thickness, and beneath this was a
second layer of shells (d). This layer was from 3 to 4 inches
I Prnc. Dav, Acad. Sc Vol. II, Part I, p. 95.
ARE THE DAVfiNVOftT TABLETS FRAITDltT
47
Ptiiifk aiid in a sloping position ncai-Iy piirntlcl with the upper liiv-
ThcEc inclicwtions cnuKcd us to coiituiiic our cxciivntionin this
diicciion, and so wc reached the liorlhwufit corner of grave B.
Here the »hell laver was 5 indips thick. Below this layer was a
stmtum of /oo.Tr ^/ac^ jo// or vegetable iDoulil of 18 or ao inches,
iMiing on the firm, undisturbed clay. In Ihis soil were discovered
Inigmcntt. of htiinun bpnes, and stiiall pieces of coal slate or bitu-
niiiauj shale. These circuiustaucea arrested particular attention,
ind caused me to proceed with more caution, until soon after, —
!^a\A five o^eloek in the afternooiu — we discovered llie two in-
»cfibcd tablets of coal slate, which, with other relics from the
moiiaJ, are now in the Musicinn of the Academy. The two tab.
let* were lying close together pii the hard clay, in the northwest
conici of the grave, about 51^ feet below the surface of the mound,
ihe larger one to the soudiward and the smaller one north of it { f ).
\ar
unii:
w
The smaller one is engraved on (Hie side only, and the larger on
holh sides. The larger one was lying with that side upward
which was Ronicwhat injured by a stroke of the spade, and the
iniallcr with the engraved side upward. Both were closely cncir-
dtilby a single row of limestones. They were covered on both
•itleswith clay, on removal of which the markings were for the
firMliine discovered. A number of/retgrneuis of ike coal slate lay
'nl\f immediate vicinity of the tablets. It should be remarked
thatl did not leave the mound after peiiclr.-iting through the frost
uniil the tablets were discovered ami taken from their resting place
with my own hands."
We hnvc put in italics the clauses which indicate the point which
have in mind. It wilt be noticed ( i ) that the strata of earth
ihclU above the grave were in ai/(j/(M^^j(V('o«y(z) that frag-
itvnfu brass ring, small fragments of human bones, small
r»ceei of roal slate were scattered through the loose, black soil and
IJ) that over the middle of the grave H were a number of stones.
It will he noticed also (4) that coal slate lay in the imme<liate
fidnity of the tablets. The same facts arc shown in the cut which
"Udrawn to illustrate the situation of the tablets and the layer of
*ma and shells above, but which should be modified so as to cor-
f»[i(ind with the description and make the stones more numerous
"erthe grave B. The point that we make is this; the language
1^ the writer unwittingly shows that the grave B had been dug into
"Ml the tablets placed at the bottom of it; the fragments of the coal
"Mcilab being scattered upon the clay and a few fragments of it
"•B 'f* with the soil which was thrown b.-ick. Stones were also
48 THE AMERICAN ANTIQUABIAN',
thrown into the midcllc of the grave. These circunistances escaped
the attention of the excavators as !t miist have been nearly <lark be-
fore they reached the tablets. ' It shontd be said thnt it iv.is ii double
inoiiiul or a iTiound with two jjriives, and that the e\t'avation of
jjrave A was late in the vear ii>74, two years preceding this. The
discoveries made at that time were somewhat remarkable, and the
mound received especial attention on that account. This excavation
was made also by Rev. Mr. Gass assisted by W. Englebrecht, E.
lioiigclt and H, Decker, who were at that time theological
students. "The excavations commenced on tlie south side of
the mound. The condition of this part of the mound and grave
was as follows: 'At the depth of one foot we f<nnitl a scat-
tered layer of limestone (a), under which was a stratmn
of earth about one toot
thick. At the southern
side, iji feit from the
surface, two skeletons
(b). With the boncs
were a lire steel, a coin-
Ikt of shell and glass
Iwads and :i silver car
ring." •Immediatelv
beneath the skeletons
was f()iin<l a thin laver
ofrivershellslo.the
■^"•'" '-"■•"-■ ■■, layer of shells rested
rii:. 3. upon a stratum <)f earth
I J inches in depth, under v.hich wc found a second bed of shells
d 1. "This sloped more abruptly to the norlhw.ird which induced
IS to proceed in that direction until we reached what proved to Ik
he south side of ihc grave A. Here at the depth of 2 feet below
he sec<m«l shell bc<I and about s'^ feet below the surface, were
liseovered three skeletons; two'of :idulls and the third that .if a
;hild /v/'/A' '" <' horizontal fosilioii on the iiard clay. The small
ikeicton was lying between the two larger ones. See Fig. i.
" Immediatelv in contact with the bones ..f the child's skeleton
ches abo>
large >
.r beac
At>o
the
nhcr
(sce
.? '»-
.uth-
@@ o ®
einmost of the tw(i larger skeletons, and near the right shoulder,
were discovered two co])|K;r axes lying siile liy side with the sharp
edges toward the south. Near the northernmost skeleton were
found three cop|>er axes in the same relative position, except thai
thev were alxiut two feet alxive the bottom of the grave and inime-
diaiely beneath the lower layer of shells. Nos. i and i were lying
side liy side, with the sharp edge toward the south, and No. 4 ly-
ing across them with the edge westward. All the axes h;ul been
I. IToe. I>»v. Aiad. St. V..I, II. P».l I. p. KJ.
ARE THE DAVENPORT TABLETS FRAUDS? 49
wrapped in clotli, which was more or less imperfectly prcscrvetl.
A few of the bones of the child were of a greenish color, quite
well preserved, probably by the action of the copper, while the
rest of them as well as those of the other skeletons, crumbled in
pieces as soon as removed. Just north of the northernmost
large skeleton, and in a small cavity (e) excavated at the
north side of the grave, were found the following articles: ist, a
number of small red stones arransred in the form of a star, about
3 inches in diameter; 2d, two carved stone pipes, one having the
form of the ground hog, and the other a plain one ; 3d, several ca-
nine teeth of the bear, etc. ; 4th, one arrow-head ; 5th, one large
broken pot with bones of the turtle adhering to the inside of the
fragments; 6th, two pieces of galena; 7th, a lump of yellow ochre."
In the cut, (Fig. i.), the grave A is placed in the relative posi-
tion to the grave 15, and the shape of the double mound is given;
but the description of this grave as given by the same gentlem'en
in the First Annual Report does not correspond with the picture
here presented. In this description and the cut which accompa-
nies it, (See Vol. I, PI. II, Fig. 3), the arch caused by the layers
of shell, was not broken down as it was in the grave B; though
it appears so in this cut. We have two descriptions of the grave
A; one made to the Society by Air. Gass at the time of its opening,
but corrected and put in shape by Dr. Farquharson; the other
given by Rev. Mr. Gass r.fter the discovery of the tablet, but uncon-
>ciously conforming to the peculiarities of the second grave.
There is mention here (^f the sJofitig of the layers of shells in the
grave A, while in the first description given by Dr. Farquharson
two years before the discovery of the tablets, this is expressly stat-
wl, "there were no layers of stones nor of shells," and Dr. Far-
quharson makes the comment there, that the descriptions of Rev.
Mr. (jass, the explorer says, '* the outer i\nd inner arrangements
were quite similar to the first (referring to a mound previously ex-
plored- mound No. i ), but his description shows that it was not,
no layer of stones, nor of shells, being mentioned."
Mr. GiL^is further says on this point: " The two shell layers over
grave B, were united over the middle of the mound and formed a
continuous layer, with the shells in the southern part, showing that
Wh of the graves were covered at the same time. These layers
were lowest immediately over each grave; they extended about
two or three feet bevond the grave in every direction terminating
in a border of stones, fitted closely together and forming o\\ the
north and south sides a layer al^out two feet in width, and on the
t^ast and west sides consisting of only a single row."
This may be the correct account for we need to consider that it
<lf«snot quite correspond with the description given at first, when
grave A was excavated.
There is an important point n this connection. The descrip-
tion given by Dr. Farquharson conveys the idea that there was an
arch over the body in grave A and the cut conveys the same idea.
It should be said that nearlv all the mounds which have ])ecn ex-
» TUB AMERICAN A3iTIQUAnU.N.
cavat.d in lliis vicinity present nhoiU the same general choractcris- I
tics. Thev am cou^itructcd in layers ; the layers alvsays in an arched g
shape. At le.Tst, the cuU which arc given by ihc Davenport Acad- f
emy all indicate this. Eight of the cuts contained in the First |
Report show thu arch, nnd iinlv uiie shows a moinid without s
arch. Subsequent c-iploralions confirm the same point. We pre> 1
sent a cut taken from the Sccund Report which illustrates this. I
This is a mound ncir Molinc, dcscrihcd hy Dr. Farquharson iol
Oct., 187S, iiearlv two years nfter the discovery of the tableL |
These layers iui «! uhiv hut thi'v illusiialt- ihc sii:ij>c. Sec Fig
n M this oiiTuniJ
The breaking down of the arch in grave B is shown by the cut (Fig
I ), hut the cuts fnniished bv the Society, of the same mound, all
the time of the first cxcnvalion indic.ntcs that this depression should^
be confined to the grave B. At any rale, the case is an exceptioO-^'B
al one, for ne^irly all the mounds are arched. The description ot''M
grave U conveys the impression that it had Iwen disturbed while j
that given of grave A at t!ic time of its opening, conveys no such '
impression.
The contents of the two graves
arc in contrast as well as the con-
dition in which they were found.
The contents of this grave B are
as follows: ist. the tablets taken
out iif the northwest corner; ad,
ccrUiin articles which were taken
out by some iHlrudcrs who etir.J
lered the excavation after the find-^fl
in«j of the tablets; these were W^
follows: some crystals of dog
tooth spar, flakes of sclemite and
an arrow-head; 3d, some articles
taken out by Mr. Gass in a subsc-
qtient exploration; these consisted
of parts of skeletons scattered
about without any order at the
south side of grave Q, i^ lect
east of the west end, a copper axe.
No. 31, (See Fig. 5.) and 2 feet
further cast, on the same side of
fr;i
leiils of potlci
nd \
the gr.-i
,v pigme.
few topper bcadSiJH
ARE THE DAVENPORT TABLETS FRAUDS? 51
**Each grave was about 6 feet wide and 9 to 10 feet long, and
excavated to a depth of 2.l4 feet below the natural surface." We
can judge from this how easy it was to have placed the tablets at
the bottom of the grave and not disturb the relics, especially as the
relics were very near the bottom at the south side of the grave.
Our conclusion is that the language of the person who describes
the "finds" indicates that a ''plant" had taken place. It shows that
gravcB had been disturbed and that the skeletons which probably
were in this grave in the same relative positions that they were in
grave A, were thrown into confusion by the intruders; but that the
relics which were in the corners of the graves were not discovered.
The character of the tablets themselves confirms this supposi-
tion. We quote from Dr. Farquharson's description of them:
"The material of the tablets is the bituminous shale which is
abundantly found in the coal regions and crops out in various
places in this vicinity^ notably on Rock River. * * As
found, the stone was sp/ii into two parts by the separation
of the lines of cleavage, and the upper half (the cremation
scene) was unfortunately broken also by the blow of the spade,
which revealed its existence in the soft earth where it rested." *
Dr. Farquharson says, " An examination of the surface of the stone
showing the original marks of polishing or smoothing, would seem
to indicate that they had not weathered much y
A description of the sacrificial scene may be interesting at this
point. In the lower part of the tablet as a central object is a
mound; on the mound is a structure which was probably intende<l
to represent an altar; above the altar are flames and smoke.
Around the mound are 14 singular looking figures, which were
probably intended to represent human beings, (mound builders,)
they all have hold of hands like a company of children playing
**ring around the rosy." In front of this line of (mound builders)
are three figures lying on their backs; two of them men, one wom-
w, judging from the drawing. These human figures are unlike
those in most inscriptions, at least they lack the conventional char-
acter which is usually presented by native drawings. No mound
builders' relics and no ancient inscriptions, so far its we know,
contain any such figures.
The singular thing about the sacrificial scene is that the mound
has already been built, and the bodies buried; the altar is built on
top of the mound and the fire burning above it, yet the bodies
which are supposed to be buried are seen lying around loose out-
ride. The altars arc generally placed at the base, and the mound
built over them, the bodies buried or burned before the nioiuul is
erected. Mr. Seyffarth says that "the fires are lighted on a //////
the top of the hill is encompassed with a stone wall probably
forming the altar or the inclosure of that temple;" (artificial hill!)
Above the mound altar are the figures of the heavenly bodies, the
'^un to the right and the moon to the left with little dots to rcpre-
^*nt stars between. The sun is made with two' circles with rays
projecting from the outer circle. The moon has a face in it (man
in the mnoii ) ncciirdiiig to the common njode.rn notion. This J
the reverse of what is common iiiiiong the ancient races; for cveH[
where in preAhlortc Americiin Art, the sun has the face in it ap
not the moon. Those sljg'ht distrupundcs in the scune h«vc i
Iweii noticed, or at least, h«ve iiol hccn upokcn of in any pablist
iiccntmt, hut thcv are iinpnrUiiit. Above the sun and moon i
the heavenly bodies are two arcs resembling the riiinhow in shaj^
furnied by three curveil lines which look very much its if lllcy 1
liL-eii ruf bv a knife.
arc hiwoglyphic fig
probably rcpn
onrsky. The
cha^acle^^
which are in.
eluded within
the belts or
arts and uho\c
Ihcm presunl gr
angles, [Xo. r : | piirtinl circles, [No. 2;] scrnTls. [No. 3;] sqmij
|No. 4:^alR-art. INo. t;:! (he figure .S, [No. 6;) ihe branch, [B
7:1 Ihe leltL-r F, |N....S:1 IheCr^'cl. Dull:,. 1 N... o: 1 in Fig. 6.
The Iu.n BP Ibf
The hieroglyphics in the cornors of the tablets sire qiiitL' confused
''In their .■irningemciit, _v<^l tliere seems to hiive been iin iittempt lo
make two lines of tbeni which should eurrcspuiitl with the lines of
the arcs below. In these lines, and in the belts or iircs below them,
the figures nr ehitrsictera arc repeatcil.
' Dr. Farqnharson has given :i list of these characters which are
repeated. We give a list of ihtiii, but in an nnler of unr own.
See the cnt {Fig. H.)
repe^teil 4 li
7
1 l!ie
■ llii
.1
^
^■•^»- Theseroll is repealed several tinu's, but in the different
arcs, anil so of sitme of the other characters. This would indicate
that the party fabricaling the inscriptions ran out of characters and
was obliged to rcpe:U the same characters several times as he made
the different lines. The variation in the characters as repeated
would indicate this. This variation can be seen in the long eol-
iimn of figures which are given by Prof. Campbell, (Sec Fig. 9.)
who has undertaken to identify certain phonetic letters in these
characters and who has placed all of the same or similar form to-
j;rethcr and then drawn the comparison between them and tlic Ilit-
tttc alphabet.
In reference to the number of characters we quote what Dr.
Farqnharson has said; "counting the total number of figures, I
make 98; 34 in one line, 30 in the other, and 54. above the lines;
'lodueting 24 repetitions, there remains 74 separate characters."
Prof. Campbell, however, makes more than this as may be
-i-vn fiimi Fig. 7, which is taken from his article, and which con-
WF
THE AMERICAN ANTIQCAHIAN. ^^^B
tains all the chHrnctcrs and the Dclditiotial ones found •>» j^|
lime sloni.
tiiWa, under the title of Plate 11. S«- Fig. 7. H
Dr. Fn
qiihnrson draws analogy between some of these ^H
the Ruiiie
inscriptioiis; also with die letters of the Phirnioian^H
phiihct, am! qnotci Branlz Mnyt-r as innintaining that the Mcxid^|
^H^niiaii ;i pjioiieiic syBieni, 111011^0 "C ""fs
^■H
^P^Hqtiile ruach the position ailvanced by other in
RIB
BbJM| hcv- of the Aendemy, th.1l the monmt buiU
HH
■MSli|had a written language. Prof. J. Campbel
■BSE ihe [itlier bund, truecs a resemblance bctw
-1
1
^H9|lbc ehnracters of the cremation scene and
H9Mcb;iractcrs of the Hittitc alphabet, and thi
|H[H tb:it the tiiMct proves n Ilittitc inigratloi)
HqH Wcr <;ive here a ilouble Cflhiinn of fig
^QHiUdch iH taken from Prof. Ciimpbell'sarttC
'' ^^S
^^^HAmrrica?,- AxTiQi-AMiAN, and leave H
r,
BgM
l^^^^dur readers to say whether there are sny «
IHH
BBB re5cnil)lancc4 as would w.-.rrant a person" ia
ic
^^9
HS^Btcrpreling one sft of figures hv the other
"
Eh
BBHBf.Sec Fig. >j. ) Prof. Campbell goes ao fa
^HIH tu Kay that the lahlel can be read and actu
12
BjBIB
^^^Hjgives Ji tranalntion of it.
H
If
1
H^H Dr. Cyru» Thomas in a recent Icttei
H^H"Sdencu/' Vol. VII, Xo. 152. p. 10, main!
^Ba^l thill the chnractci's on the tablet aliovc the
H^Hmutiuti »ecnc h:ive marked resemblances tO
^H^H alphabetic chnrnctcrK which arc porta
H^Rin the latter part of Websicrs' Dictioiiarjt
^gg|thc edition of 1872 and Inter. •>.\ fcw,it tftt
H^^fiire revL-rsi'd and in some instances tbc f
■^Mf cases is very strong. The resider can tnnkc
='
JBb
^^^^1 conipnri>.oii for himself. lie will observe
^BlHiii some instances, a number of charaeten
2)
Wgms
^■^Hl-Iosc relation on the tablet are found ncnr
2-
H
^^^1 -ether on the page of the Dictionary. E
^^H :lIko we tind the & so often nsed on the tnbt<
IfiaH Dr. Thomas has also traced a rcscmblAnco
2^
hI
MMiim iwcen four or five ehar.-ieters in the cremi
■@Hl^c:ene and those on the limei'tonc tablH vr
2t
H
H^W| w ns found siihsei]tieiitly and which he {
^^nlriKJUias) thinks wiisH "plant" and nut a j
^nWiiine
H3B The characters which m.iy be seen on 1
*"
'^ (the e-oal slate lidilet and the lime stone slab)
Ihc follow
ing: those marked 1,3. :^,4, s. 6 and 7.Fig.io. This m
be qiinled
ns proof that the mound builders hail an alphithet, «
iiiiion which wc hiivu said some nf the members of the Dnvcii^H
Ac;uk-niy
hold. Tliis h the position whieh Prof. J. t:«nipbell I1H
^^^
^^^^^ ^^^J
ARE THE DJLVBNPORT TABUGTS FllvVUPar
ss. Wc hiivu Liken the {ollowiiig cut, which
I u*k how mauiul huildum :ind Mittilct huppciicr) to Rlrikc
word awl miifcc il so pmmincni. Wc rt:fi-r iilsci to Iht-
:. ill Fit;, i3 tinfi resemble to a ccrtahi extent some of the
i'j.S wcic used l>y luitive pcopl* in this coimtry. We
iibjcct with the inqwin*. how di»cs it hiippon that the
■•n thi' tuWct should hcnr so f;rcat resemblance to Runic,
II, [lillitc and Arabic nlpliiihc-ti, und L-i>ntain bo mail J' Ar-
: I I,- iin>) Ronwn numerals, mid yet ci>nlLiin only (me figure
,1 can \k said to be imdispiitnbly nativ.' American?
c would say in conclu4io:i that the Davenport Academy of
lev hav beei: osu of the most active s.n;icliei in the country.
Ill . ^clorritioii ha? been a special Iv with them ;md many val-
' : I ^ iiavcbccn cxhnmed. Wc consider the members, all
II i.ihli; gemlemi;n,incap;ihle of dsL-ep'.ion but wc a*k the
vhclhcr a "plant " has not been perpetrated. It will be
ii.ii the mound No, 3 in which thcsj tablets were discov-
III the name group with mound No, 11, in which the
^ 1 wan fournt. We quote here from Mr. C. E. Putnam's
:. ' .ill EleplMiiit Pipes: "The third tablet was found on
I ;o, 1S7S, iti mound No. 1 1 in the group of mounds on
' L[ III in ihc ftuburlis of Davenport and m close proximity to
■ ii!ul wherein Ihc other tablets were disco icrcii." Previous
gUii* Rev. Mr. Oass had discovered n number of remarkable
■ with nnctcnl engravings, cmb^ded iti a creeli ab;iul ix miles
56 THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAK.
west of Davenport. He says, *" I visited the place twice to obtain
the needed information and help for the exploration. The second
time, /. c., on the 15th of May, I discovered ^i^c inscribed stones.
Two of them are now in our Museum ; the other three, even if I
had power to remove them from the creek, would have been too
heavy for my vehicle, though one of them, the largest and most
important, covered with many inscriptions, might be of particular
value to our Academy." We give this quotation with no intent to
reflect upon the discoverer, for we have heretofore been, and are
now, ready to defend him from all aspersions Jis to personal char-
acter and reputation, but the statement of facts in the very language
of the Report is given with the question whether some unknown
person has not been engaged in the work of planting tablets in the
vicinity of Davenport, and whether various parties have not been
misled? The tablets are too numerous and the discoveries too
frequent for the majority of scientific men to accept them as gen-
uine. This, however, does not detract from the value of the other
relics which arc in the Cabinet of the Museum.
NOTES OX EUROPEANT ARCHAEOLOGY.
BY IIENUY PIIILUPS, JK.
On the leg of the bronze Bacchus found lately in the Tiber is the print of
some coin, wliich. unfortunately, cannot be deciphered. It is guessed that the
foundrymeu placed it there on purpose to register the date, but this is a some-
what strained explanation. The eyes of this statue turn out to be ivory, not
silver, as was first reported.
In the Mi'^azinc piiblisliel by the O^nrlan^Uzl^ch" Q.?!s:'!hrhafl der WUseti-
$clutfh:n at Goerlitz in Prussia. (V^ol LXI. 1st part. pasjCv) 79.) is an article by
Dr. A. Moschkau. of Oybm, on the preliistoric antiquities of Obcrlauntz and
the places where they were disjovereil. It occupies tifiytwo (52) pages and is
very carefully, and as it S(;ejQS, completely put together. S:icriticial altars
were found at ftfty-uine (oSi) places; stone wills, at live; stone circles at thir-
teen; earthworks, at ninety: internitmt-places and earth-burial, eight; urn-bur-
ial, one hundred and thirty five; weapons, (-tton'j age), nineteen, (bronze age),
sixty -si-x; (iron age), tighteen. Many otlier remuins were found including idols,
and clay-formed figures The whole article i» full of interesting details and
deserves a wide cu'culation.
The explorations at (;.ipe Suuium convlucled undor the auspices of the
L*lnstitut Archie logicpi J Allemand hive met with great success. The ancient
temple of Minerva has been entirely determined and its form accurately mtde
out. — AtutleM (In MuH^c (j'fimct, jV. S. AV, 2, 240.
TuE Mni*('C' GniiHft is about to be move I f ro •. Lynni to Paris, in accordance
with an agreement arrived at bMwjca \\i:'. g )Vt.'rmM ni and M. Guimel. yet
to be ratified bv theCliaml)jr aiivl the S.;;ialc. — .l/i/'...- d t J/// v.' Qninu-l. N. i^.
XL 2.
The explorations in Italy dur'.nj: July and Au^ju^r. IS:*"), resulted in Arch-
aeological finds of implements, inscriptions. el<\. etc.. on fifty nine occasions
throughout the whole peninsula— .dA'<(rA/ Liwr.i, H. (/. /. XX, CG2.
A PUEiiiSTORic CEMETERY has lately been discovered at Dumferlino, in
*Scc I'roc. Dav. Acad.. V<it. II, Part I, page 142,
NOTEB ON EUROPEAN ARCHAEOLOGY. 57
ScoUand, enclosed by a circle of stones cavcriog a mound 200 feet In diameter.
At a distance of three feet below tlie surface a cyst was found. 46 by 24 inches,
mostly filled with a dark mould, and containing some calcined bones. The other
urns, eleven in numlier, measured from 5 to 12 inclies in height and were sim-
ilar as to their contents. Burnt bones were also found scattered about the
mound. The interments are believed to bo of the Bronze and Stone afics. —
NiUun, A'o. 830, XXXII, p. 518.
Ox October 2, 1885, a paper by the learned Slavist, Dr. F. S. Krauss, of
Vienna, entitled **Aus Bjsnien und llcnegotina'* was read before the American
Philosophical Society, in which he gives details as to theethnogmphyof these
interesting but little known regions.
M. Paul Sebillol* has prepared a circular containing a large number of
questions relating* to popular superstitions and belie's connected ivith the Sea,
the answers to which he intends to u*^) in his forthcoming work on the Ocean.
-BuU. dc Ui Sjc, trAnthrop. de Paris, VIII, 424.
M. Gaillard read. May. 1885, before the Anthropological Society of Paris, a
paper containing th 3 results of his explorations In the island of lerier near
Quibfron, which lead him to believe that in that spot there once existed a
workshop for ttie production of flint instruments, etc., and that the man of the
epoch of the dolmens had once made liis habitation there. — IhiUvtiu de la Soc,
i Aiiihropalugie de Pari», VIII, ]). 4l0.
M. Dellatre found in a prehistoric tomb near Carthage, a bronze hatchet,
(11 cm by 6 cm). Two skeletons were in the same grave which the tinder
coasidcrs'of Punic origin. — BuUcUn de la Sjr. de Anthrop. de I\fris, VIII, 513.
M. AssowsKr from 1878 to 1883 has been exploring the cavern of Ojcoir (near
the Polish and Hungarian frontier), where ho found bones of animals, whoso
Dumber increased with the depth of the excavations, handsomely formed tlint
implements, haromei*s, knives, axes of polished stone, etc.: in all more than
two hundretl objects. Below these were animal bones and some human re-
mains.— /^M^ri/i de la Soc. Anthropoligie, de Pan\i, VIII, 475.
M. Manouvriku called to the attention of the Anthropological Society of
Paris the fact that holes made in prehistoric skulls by the pick of the explorer
were sometimes taken for tbe marks of prehistoric trephining, and exhibited
two i>ku Us that liad been thus injured while being exhumed. M. Cartailhac
however, whs of the opuiion that the two marks could not be cjisily con-
founded. — liaUetin de la Si>c. de Anthrop<dtff/u' de Paris, VIII, 445,
Throitgh the exertions of the Chevalier J. P. Da Silvu, a course of Archa;-
ology has l>een opened at Lisbon for which the Prince Charles has granted a
yearly stipend of 1200 francs.
M. Tex K.vte read iicfore the Anthropological Society of Paris, March 10,
1S85. a communication on the <ikulls from Lagoa-Sania in Hra/.d. in which he
/avc their measurements and dimension and compared them with a number of
Lower-California skulls. He spoke of enormous differences in the types of
American skulls, where there existed both the dolico cephalic and hyperbrachy-
eephalic. lie was not of the opinion that the Lagoa-SanUi skulls were of
the excessive antiquity claimed for them and did not believe that tliey were
theremAins of human beings who lived contemporaneously with the extinct
mamomls of the qu:irternary period of Brazd.
Da. II.vNSEM. read on August C. 1885. before thn Ck>r:nan Anthropological
Sosiciy a pipjr on th3 Up;>cr lihiirj in preliKtoric lim.*-; Prof liL'ssinger, on
Roman B.i-I(;ti, in which he gave an account of the vari nis exploritions con-
Jicied in tlrit vicinity; D.-. Mayer, on the prjliist«>ric refuge i>lace-i between the
Danube and UppL-r libine with a description of the remains tound therein.
Teiitiarv Mv?f.— At t'rj r3C3nt mj3ting of tlu Fro:i::i AHi)ciitio:i at Grjn-
oble, M. de Mortilletread a paper on tertiary man before the aiiihropologieal
wciion. The question, he said, was not to know whetiier man already exi,sted
ia the tertiary epucli as he exists at the present day. Animals varied from one
*4 Rue d« r Odeon. Paris.
58 THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN.
gcolo.irlcal sti'atum to another, nml the his/her the animils the greater was the
variaiiDn. It was to be inferred, therefore, that man would vary more rapidly
than the other mammaln. The problem was to discover in the tertiary period
an ancestral form of man. a predecessor of the man of historical times. M. de
Mortillet affirmed that there were unquestionably in tlie tortiary strata object.s
which implied the existence of an inielligent being. TiK*se ol)ji»cls have, in fart,
been found at two different statics of tljc tertiary epoch— in tlie lowt»r tertiary
at Tlicnay, and in tlie upper tertiary at Otta. in Portugal, and at Puy Courny.
in Cantal. These objects provel tliit at theso two distant epoclis tlicrc existed
in Europe animals acquainted with the us'j of tire and al)le more or less to cut
stone. During the tertiary period, then, there lived animals less mtelligent
than existing man. but mucli more intelligent than existing ap'*s. M. de Mor-
tillet gives the name of anthropUiieqiic, or ape-man. to the species, which, he
maintains, was an ancestral form of historic man. whose skeleton Inis not yet
been discovered, but who has made himself known to us in the clearest man-
ner by his works. A number of Hints were exhibited from the strata in ques-
tion, which had been intentionally chipped and exposed to fire. The general
opinion of the savants assembled at Grenoble was that th«*re can no longer be
any doubt of the existence in the ter«i:iry period of an anceritral form of man, —
At the last meeting of the French Association for the Advancement of Science,
at Grenoble, M. Mortillet read a pi i>er on Tertiary m»n in which lie >tated
thai his existence wtus un(iuestionably the case. That objects proving it
had b'en found at Theuny, at Otta, Portugal, and Puy Courny, Contal. showing
the existence of animals familiar with the use of fire and able to cut stone.
To the n. more intelligent than apes and less so than man. he gave the name
of Anthropithf'que, or ap^man. In the opinion of the anthropolojxisls ass»*m-
bled ui Grenoble there was no longer any room for doubt of the existenc^e in
the Tertiary period of an ancestral source of man. — Xatutw licpt. 17, 1885,
p. 49 1.
M G. i)K Mv)itTii.i.i:T read lately b.rforc ih ? S icit'ty of Anthrop doiiy of
Paris, (Bu'lclin, Vol. Vlll. series :j. p. 1;V.)), a eoninuinicatiou entitled Ij'prf-
curs<ur(fr Vh'nnm-, in which he discu-iscd the (juesiion whether during tlie ter-
tiary period there exi*<ted on the earth beinL^s or animals intelligent enough to
fabricate for themselves instruments and to make u>e of tire. Of course lie
assumes that man such as he now exists did m^t live in thosn days, and he
answers hi« interrogation in the nflirnialive citing in support of his position the
following finds:
1. At Oila in Portugal, in the vmIIcv of the Taiiu^i. (lee]>or than the bottom
of the Plioc* ne have been (l.scoveredilini implements showing absolute evi-
dences of having been fashioned by the hand of design.
2. .Vt Puy Cornuy. near Aurillae (Cantal) of the same ger>loirical age were
found implements of the same eharae'er bearin*^ in;irks of intentional design.
3. At Thenay {L-urrf Cher) were found renLiin-* tliat set the whole Coii-^re-ss
of Archie )1 agists at Blois in commotion. T'lese were the remajns of a being
who had intelliirence enough to sj)lit the silex l)y tlie aid of lire and to refashion
the fragments to make iheni serve his uses. TUes(» depvits. more ancient still
than the two preeeviing, b,'loag below to the has** of the Miocjne or to the re-
mote lower Tertiary.
During tin discussion that easue.l aficM* tlit' re.idinir of the pip.'r th'^ Maniui?
de Nadaillac toi)k the ])o<ilion that these latter remains were Eocene and not
pliocene, and dilfeied from .M. de Mortillet as to ihe value of the two i)rec(d-
ing finds, in.stancing how the estimation had cliangeil in which the bone of
Poggiarone. the Los Angeles' .skull, the Neva'la fooiprinls had been once held
and the position to which these finds were now relegated.
M. I lerv'* believed that the mammals were of a much e.irlier origin than M.
de Nadaillac thought.
At the next meeting M. De Acy presented .some natural fonne<l flints that
resembled the alleged artificial remains found :il Thenny. which gave ri'C to a
warm discussion.
An important discovery h is lately been made at Kirehheim an der P^k of ii
skeleton in a squatting position, whose bones were mostly well preserved, and
NOTES ON AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY. 59
whose skull was dolicoceplialic with a low narrow forehead. The stature of
the subject, judj^in^ from the tibia wiis about tive feet and the sex femi-
Drne. In the same ^rave occurred thick, cojirse. broken pottery with ban J
pieces affixed. The ornamcniation was made by pressure of the nails. A few
yards distant was found a handsomely finished stone chisel. All this pointed
to the ncolitliic period as the date of the interment. — C)r. Blatt. DcuUeh Anthr.
(/Mftt., xtL 8.
Tub explorations made at Neuma«jfen, on the Mosol, between 1877 and 1884,
have been so productive of discoveries consistin<; of sculptures on stones of
Tarinl cbaracter, jjroups of every day life. mytholon;icul representations, in-
Knptions and architectural fracrmenis. etc.. a^ to give the place the name of
the Rhenish Per^mos. — Cor. Blatt. Deut^h Ethno. Gesell, xci, 7-
At Worms am Rhein an extensive Roman burial ground has lately been ex-
plored amd over sixty sjircophairi, of coarsely hewed rod or white sand stone,
entirely onorn imented and uninscribed. have been discovered. They were
ill similar in their construction and finish, and all bore evidences of having
heen more or less tampered with after their interment, while curiously enoucrh
the relies of cremation fotmd at the .same lime and place b'>re no evidences of
havin? been disturbed The lids of some of these stone cofTlns had been brok-
en open by heavy hamm'^rs; in others only holes had bj-n made so that
the contents could be inspected and ejisily removed if desired. These spoila-
lionsarc attributed to the fifth century, X.'D.—Cor. Blatt. Dentsch. Anthro, Oesell.
Brazilian AncniEOLOOV. — Dr. Ladislau Netlo delivered an address on this
subject at the National Museum of Rio Janeiro. Nov. 4. 18S4, which has just
been published, In which he reviewed the labors of recent scientists in this di-
rection.
In the Excursi/m^ et Reoniiaf'Hifinceii pubr^hed in Saiiron by the French gov-
ernment are sevenil papers on the ethnoloiry of the tribes of Cochin China,
someof them are desrril>ed as iirnorant of the use of money, both burying
and burning their dead, and as working in iron. M. Laudes* contributes pa-
pers on the Folk- Lore of the Annamites; M. Avmonier on the inscriptions in
CamlKxha of which he succeeded in obtaining u50. — Nature 8;H, x.rj-iii, p. 67.
FoLK-LoRE. — The BtU'fin Folkljtriro QatUtnirt, edited by I). Juan <le Bur-
pony Ite<|uejo. published at Ca(iiz. is the newest arrival \\\ the lii*ld of Spanish
Folk-Lo'-e. It promises to i)e valuable and (?ontains matter of interest.
Oi:r suggestion as to a Congress of Folk-Lorists has been taken up by Wm.
Georifc Black, E^q., of Glnsirow. the eminent Folk Lorist and it is to be hoped
oay bear good and speedy fruit.
FoLK-I^RE. — The Spanish Folk- Lore .<iocieties invite the Folk Loreista of
til nations to contribute to a fund for building a vess I of war to be named the
l&frwlo "vindicate the national rights so l)asely outraxred by Bismarck," and
jjPpoU to American.s, French. It-ilians, and all others opposed to his iron rule.
Tlte honor of Spain Is based to-day, as ever, in the hearts of its zealous and
patriotic citlzccs.
NOTES ON AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY.
BY D. G. BUTNTON, M. D.
Chiliax Folk-Lore. — An Enirlish gentleman. Mr. Thomas II. 3Ioore, has
collected and published in the Folk-Lore Journal, a number of curious tales
*birlj he heaitl among the country people of Chili. Several of these, notably
ooeaboutsgood serpent, presented some traits which led him to believe that
l^ were remnants of aboriginal myths which had pjissed into the po.s.session
p^thLeirly colonists and been transmitted to their descendants. This attract-
ive theory, however, he has felt himself obliged to abandon, as researches in
«0 THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN.
Spain have disclosed the fact that tales very similar to those arc also current
there. It would not be without precedent, however, for both Araucanions
4ind Aryans to have invented independently the same or similar imaginative
occurrences.
Mexican Antiquities. — A handsome quarto describing his collection and
illustrating its specimens by numerous photographs, has appeared from the
pen of Mr. Terman Strebel, of Hamburg:. It can be ordered through any for-
<eign importing bookseller, and costs in New York $18.00, or thereal>out8. Most
of the specimcDS were obtained near the Gulf Coast within fifty miles of Vera
Cruz. They embrace stone, pottery, metal and shell work. Many of the terra
•cotta figures are especially striking, and the features have such an impress of
individuality that considerable probability is lent to the supposition that they
were intended for portraits.
Ohscemtv in Ameuic.vn Aut. — In studying the art products of the various
native tribes of America a remarkable diversity is apparent in the moral purity
of their thoughts. I do not here refer to that naivete which simply reproduces
the nude, or which regards the sexual act as merely one of the natural func-
tions, and contemplates it with the same indifference as do the lower animals.
What I speak of are the portraitures of sexual vices, often with a marked cyn-
icism and a studied and repulsive grossness, such as in the old world wc see in
the wall paintings of the lupanars of Pompeii, or in the illustrations of Aretino
and De Suade. The vilest of these are fully equalled by some hnacas or amu-
lets I recently saw in a collection from Peru. Some of them were in solid sil-
ver; others in terra cotla. In artistic design they l)elonged to the best speci-
mens of Incarial work. They had been obtained quite "recently from burial
caverns at a height of over 11, OCO feet. One group of four figures in solid
silver wcitrhed two pounds four ounces. It represented one female and three
males, anil was of an indecency beyond Ihs foulest conceptions of the Deca-
dence. In Aztec art such prurient conceptions are unknown, while they reap-
pear in Cherokee designs, in some of the Ilaidah carvings, and elsewhere in
the north.
The Vatican Libhauy. — It has long been known to Americanists that the
richest collection in the world in their L-ranch is that at the Vatican Library.
"Quantities of unique American MSS. are there stored, and many objects of ab-
original art. Bu! it has been wholly inaccessible, and not even a written cata-
logue of its treasures existed. Now. however, under the enlightened patronage
of Leo XIII. the eminent scholar, De Hossi. has in pifss a complete catalogue
of all books. MSS. and <'uri05>iiies in the colleetion. The progniinmo of the
work has already l)een printed in Kome, and we may look forward to the ad-
<liiion of much most vaUub'.e in Verial for thj study of tlij l:in^u:igC5, early
historv and archieoloirv of America.
The Taensa Guammau. — M. Lueien Adam has recently sent me the first
letter he reoeiveil from ihe young Dominican, Parisot. who now n^sts under
the grave suspicion of having manufactured the Taens^i Grammar, In this let-
ter, written in June, 18S1. Parisot slates Ihat he has always had a love for the
study of languages, and for the previous eighteen months had been giving liis
attention to those of America, pe-rusing the works of Adam and other writers
upon Iheoi . At that tunc he claims lo have l)eeu working on his Taensa
Grammar for two years. He calls the l.mvruage l.'i Liitfjnv ILt»tn\ a term he
sul>sequently dropped. At present this younj: gentleman pretends h • has lost
the original,' and declines further controver>y on the subjeet. Doubtless this
is the wisest course that he can pursue for his own cre-.lii.as there will Ix* some
no doubt to defend his ingenious forg-.ry. evm when he hini<elf declines the
precarious undertaking.
Porri.AK Bei.ikfs Conckumno Stone Implkmexts— Tliis is the theme of
an article by the eminent ethnologisi. Dr. Richard Andr'e in the last volume
of the l^riK-t-cdings of the Anthropological Society of Vienna. It is chiefly
conccrmni with the nolion> of the peasuUry of Europe as to the origin of stone
;mplement>. but a few page< are devoted to native American ideas on the sub-
ject. It apjK'ars to l»e .. tjuite generally prevailing iK-lief that stoue axes and
arrow head> are the proiluets oi the IhuuvL^r an. I the lightning. This istruL' of
NOTKB OK JUffBUCAN xrrUKpLoarf. , at
DIID7 cutIouk (iliapoil Btnae<
mil arjuiw Uie beli^mnitcg wliicti ara found iu Ilio greet
Their iinjinnr)' name Ib "IliunderbolTs." Dr. An-drio wrltra. ususiinl, nloamed
utii'lr. mil! liiis colliMitL'd many curious facts.
Tin; TiiniBCH— In tlic Isal niimliercif Uic Jierur D' EtlmographK. tlie well
knonmiiivi'ltt^r, M, Ot'itirJ Cbaruny, begins 111 e tIrsEof it sariea of nniclca in
^ M of which heSoioDtla lodoalllR'CBDloeatalilitJi three poiHIi: l.Tlial
. ...» aqeb a hUtoricNl nnliiin as Ibo Toheca. 2. That all ibe civllIzalionB
Jioerica wcro the dGvelupmetilB of nne and Die some clvlliuitioa; and, 8,
R ihit cIvlUzalfoD wag founded by sod derived from khe Toltccs. As in the
■|)B Of many compvteut Aiuericanists ono or all of these propoeitions oro
nnentallr nod rnilicallv erroneous, it will Iir inlt'rcsiiug to see how M.
ii<;qilit9 himself of his logic.
ci.o BB ToTOSLCAPAN. — UndiT this liiiL' rlip Count de Clisrencey, ono of
._lcBt studcnia itf AniMicun antiquities in Fninco. hns issued fur the flrat
'■Tcmntkablo diwument relating the iegtndsof thcQulchfsof Oualcmala.
" ■— c committeil lo writing In the aniivo tongue nbout 1550, and were
. I lodofcnd llie llllott )o somcland^ A Spanish tranBlntion was madc^
B |tfiB*t well vpTBCd in llie native tongue some forty vears aRo, and this, with
■rach version, is jtrescntcd by SI. De Clliorency. Tlioso readers wlio arc
tlnlrd with ilia Quiclio " Popol Vuh," as publiEhcd liy the Abb.' Unj«i-ur
MttiwaTf^. will find in it mucli to support uad explain tliiii ninguliir dncu-
xLlAua is Etiixoloot axd ArciijEolog v — As ilic only domestic ani-
Rot dnft or burden known to the American Indiaos— if we except Uic oc-
' i> of llic doET^Ibe llnmn has especial ethnological interest. It i«
. lo we, (lierefore, that a thorough study of this animal fnini the utli-
tl point of view lias Lcen made by the TCIenin nckrilar and traveler. Dr.
diudl. In a late number of the Zeittehrift/itr ElJuiologir. ills intimate
nat knowlE^gu of llie natlvn tonguo and local hablEs ot tho Peruvian abo-
B hint »nn|jled hlni to mitlce It a masti-rlf ikrlicic
LOH AiiiruT(*vi«Th.-.s —Ono af iho Bond results of the ses-
I"'" ■ ■■■ ■ '■■■ ■ -i "■•')iHrfr» in Madrid, ia 1881. was the
I !ij ^ ' I.' II ijf Madrid for thepurposcof print-
me-- '.. ■!■ ' iLilu iiliovc given, It wns intended
^"M^-- i.-lnd. but old works on America
1 . 1 .. ...ii.n- Mill' ,ii;il -M-ily, ^(1 that Uiey are prneii-
■ i..|.ir- -:l . Ii" :ii.' iiMially endowwl wllh ple-
1, and fcry ^iiliafruroiv lij mli.-nili I ■ I ■ i Mliifh
!■ ..[■■i.L- .■■11- 1,1 -111111. I.ij-i' joar 1 bought a
■I ■ . i .;. ■ lii' li !■! rr vn -.,■,■11, ril iniii.'ii nioderato pricf,
k tliiiiii^li K. Brei^'L-i- A- fo , 2.> IWk PIucl-. Now York City.
F rnr. M\va IIiEnooLVPHg,— It ia gralifjlng lo nolo that Uie sludv
tt Ua^a hiTi-ulypli!) is occupying several able scholars in dilfen'nt piirla sf
~-" ---' ■' ■!! Ui'lnn. Iciii? we sliall liave some firm ground uniU'riiur fei-l
:■-■ Ill ilie Third Annual Report of the Bureau of
I J. I :i issued, Prof. Cyrus Thomas has n Itiirnod pa-
' - I M:iyaand Mexican Manuscripts," in which In'
. ;i in If. I |, i-iiive resiillB of bis studies of tho FejervaTy and
, I'H*. lu iicriiu. Dr. Schellhus. a gentleman of the Icgut pro-
V •■Ji been di-voliu^ lib lei.>iiira for a year and a half to the study of (hi''
n Codex, iind boa oseertnined the meaning of certain mytliotnglcnl ri'm-
THE AMERICAS ANTIQUABUH
boK npon wlildi lie will Hlionly pulillsh <i
le ot the prGscut yeur. auil will cnnMla some ntrilcins idenlilloiUnB
which CUQ uot fail 10 uttnct the BllcDtiou of tbe Ic irocd world to Ihe char*
teristiC) of ilils rcm^irkable syatom of writing, aad iu n tncasui\3 siipplr tlie ki
to Its myslcrieg.
NOTES FilOU THE FAR EAST-
HiLL-TmuBs ON THE EA.8TERH FitoNTiKR OF IsDtA.— In Uic pnrlior nun
Ijcrsot this journal, (April, 1SS8 unit Sept. 1884,) wt-Jescribed the ruflepeopk.
who 11)10 iliu northeiuiUirii borilur of ludiu. utid rumnrkud Ilmt a hardly less kn-
toresling cllinolosical unnc
lead south wiird from Assir
much the same in both regi
the aboriginal populslinnTi.
and liBVc in Honw degree in'
poriorruce; and in each
tribes havii
cmbraocil l>y tho uiouiil-tiu rangt^ which
to Briiisli Burma. The couJUioos are, ia'lecdi
In eacii are rivor valleys, where & porllon ot.
aeilled di>wa to st«iuly cultivation of llie ( ~'
iiixcd wittk, and adoputd tlie cusloms of. a
precipllom anii forest-clad muuntsias. whi
jcilouK'y ifu^rded Ihelr aeclusloa lliiit even tiow they arc to o _,
little more tlian aaintH. Crosain? the run j^ which forma tU
waler-pnrling between the valley of the Brulim^iputru and that of the B«i^
we come flrst to the district of K^tchar, which coiisisla of a river-vulle* and
IL ttingled ina.<ts of hllU iiiirroiinilin,!!: it on three n\>\'-'. Hore, l)e«ides Ulndui.
are collected reprpacnuilivrM n( niimi'rniLi liillir lim— ^l.inhmri^. K«cl
Lushnis or Kukis. Nj
iramittmnta, aiiriu-ii'i
they have not alL-;i'l^
mauent homes. Duci'dv i>,i-i ui lv:icli;ir i-i iln r..,ij\. -:..'i- ■; \| mijuir. wht^'
like Eschar, consists of a valley wirli nil covininini'iit oi moiiiiuiins.
Thou<;li the Manipurii, whu form lbs chief [topiilution oT ilir.< vnlley. [10
lon^r deserve the epittict of I'uile or siivMge, since tliey liavi^ niaile considerO'
ble pro;;re.'s In civiliKiition; yet tli«ir lauvuiim uud feuturc.'.
3 canuot pusi Ibci
' eil from (ndi.
*1B
borl'ood lliat we c!
ing clmnclera deri
trace ilii'lr history usc.st lo ii
□othinK mure than " lyiii:,' 1
but in reality stUI cliiig to tl
of itinumerublo nodi of the
Rijl. who is independenl in
Iliein with less ndV'inced tribes In their neigh-
liy. Thov lire noquainted with writing, ua-
and have a f'.'w reijords. wilich purport to
; ceniiirv of mir er.i. bill which arc doulitlrss
i." Tli'.'v ,11V iioiniuaUy Hindus in religion,
1 ft ilii'ir mil I-. 1)1- -.1 Ip -lirf HI rlic polency
iri'-i -mil v:il.' Til" ->■ III- 1- ;;>i.-iTuud by a
, liiil 1- t'u;.l.-l ;., Ill' i.lvii-.. ii! ,t British
resident
by many local and clan niinn-.. Inu uiv all lnliiv.il in lul
kt or to the KHf^a tamilie«. Ihose to the noitheiii^t ti
wilb, the lalLer and those to the southwest with the forme
these siili-triltcs are the Koutiuis in the hills hetwecn t'
Unlike many hill people thpy live in iicrm^Dtni vlllnpes w
These are perched Tin ttif til 1^: in .; ■i.jiil • ;iHI; m ! r-i:
Blockade. Eueli viIIill''' li i '■ ■ ''ri ■■ ■; ■ i !
otflcers who hi
a feeliii>!
lally ^
;■ liii.'11'nrliL^rn iriliLM. ihc UdUi.uTJi'il iiii-ii and b lys i
sleep lit iniiii<'. Ii'ii 111 ,i!iij III' more hoiiie:^ act apirt for thiir u-te. In tbi
they iiiT iti ;i ini-iiiuii in ^i^rveaa p.ilicc or wixtchmen. The yoangor _
are e-vpi'LU'd in oUi-y, ^unt to perform menial servicer tor Ihuir seuiora.
The euiuumiiily is divided into tour family groiip'i, wlioiu meisben i
ialeriuurry with any uf the oilier groupH. biii nut within their own, Wh
husband dies, his brother or other near relative marries the widow; if the
NOTES KBOU THEFA-S EABT.
Jit* dnl tlio liiiilmiiil IB reqiiiroil In |i.iy iiur rPlwlWea ii ccrliiin sum la the
"piL<« ot lirr \man " Tiia Kiuput? iim sii'd lu tK-licvc in n Supreme Qod and
1 IraHii' lire, liiii It Is «nfc lo oKBumu Uiat tbulr chief intcrosi ia centered in infa-
liio Not only domclic vahiublcA liut lienps of twig) or Itrnvi's an the
h-' 'L' llieir fKida ruaide Mrvv ns offerings, Tlio ptuctiuo uf Titlra. ciillod
i. iixists, uni) rdolcs li> exit or (.'nlniniM? of villngcrs or sininjiers
II LciUiii days, nlialention frnm f"'"l m- livinlc. unr| llio like. Two
Uw.r Itllwn 111 llinsLtmo rcilon jitr ih ■ i.i .■..!■.■. ,ii 1 flic Klioo] ' "'
IrniiotiiedBoulb'if Hirr Kriii|Mi:- . "> Tionlivard
Lid l>y t
a lived in the
I- ■I'.i'iiiL'- ;iii [iperture. wliilc huniitig,
riL'tli'iii 111 computinir time is by llie num-
■cicl) b^.iiD^ used for oiiu guusou only.
u iniro influence Ihao tliuSB ')( tliu Kou-
II < iKitn tatua 111 kind or tliQ per^ounl scivicos at
: I - ;- Wii.Li .1 I !r:.': or iidi miin dies his liody is smokO'driFd and kppt
'"I ■nrliipi Iw.-. liL'r<itT.-liiiriii1. Mcniiwhile, caDliniinircnstiueiskeplUp.and
il« m- .,t. .,r tlic iiDii.<il4 slain, iis widl as lliiwo of enemies prociirnblu, nre
l>!iiir.r| fiHrii.'nLIi tile corpBU. triili lUc idc.: thut lli'.'^ will ia spirit-form iitlend the
- , ,n. --■ .,1 M-Li .|.iir I- 11,1 ill ill. ! I ! Ilii; 'I i, i„ r.ih. whereiKlhelriboof iho
"f ibuTippuruUt. orTrlp-
I . I illiudwllli Ilic Onro and
i' ' . ■ ■■. ■ ''- iiii|n-.rtint looguea (orm« n
ll^tT coalBCl with
• iii'v rec*nlly lic-
■ii.^ iif caale. They
111 ritliur nnimiilii.
II lUu Q:iros and
itlmrli. The TijipiTBlin me rMri'iinlv fiunl uf i1;irrii]g nnil drinkinir. Tlieir
"wiibrnwcd from rice, nnd is mildly inioxit'rxiiu^. Like ihc lilll iicnple
"■lijr, Uwy havi' grniii napppt fur uii oitli mln'ii upon ilic dto or lilIlKnlte,
-. loceilier with tbodetu) mnn's weiipons. loola, tinil oriin-
'I HI II niiuiiilurc liul on Llie top ot it hill Tliu mmp (ilTmiigs
wn Kuri'csBivu duy«, unci uflcrwiirds at longer intervals fov a
rt partly explorrij roclon bdunded ni)rtli by Kachar, west by Hill-Tipper-
'""■'■ ' - '"ii(liii.''iiij.'. Hii'l eii«f bv Uiirma. ia tlio hamc of one of the mnst
iiim' iri'i'iiily I list known, of Ibc hill'IribcB, Ibe Lushai^ or Kii-
iiiil till' pfople dcalgiiated by it, became familiar lo lis
' ' i i< 11 u iiii'ii [[ bears lo lite former it not Iiitly seilted-
V.,, .1 uiic- 113 Rynonymoiiti, wliile otbers. pvobubly more
-... i.ii-ii.ii- iir,> J >ct:iinn of •bemorcnumcmuiKtiki Irihe.
, I'lM ii<- iiilil of tbc LifiihDis WHS rlittt their chief
I ■'- ■■ ;'i' II- ■:. I ir.ys upon thoir weaker noiahborB.
- ■■' I !■■ -■ ■ ■ ii.lili'u reireaU into the deep forests,
nil. ;■ iiii'ii- oririiniited by iiovernmeiit pi'ne-
R the iiwiier of
!■ i| n - 1 ilior yoirly. Ttie chief's bou» is nn mtIu
itf.iui!., n'lio IhorcW become h)B slave*. Their villiur
illiurca
, - - of sUn'p bills nmt carefully guarded by diockadm,
BliDCciipicd BO loDK as ibv vicinity is 111 tor their rude uj^rleulture, and
64 THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN.
then the whole community moves off to another spot. Their women arc not
without influence in counsel, but do most of the hard work, while the men are
engaged in the chase or head-hunting among their neighbors.
A mnn who is decidedly inferior to his fellows is compelled to put on wom-
an's clothes and work witli the weaker sex. Their funeral customs have some
grotesque features When the head of a family dies, his friends and relatives
gather from far and near for a grand "wake." The corpse is dressed in his
best clothes, and seated in the midst, witli his weapons on the right hand and
his weeping widow on the left. Food is set before him, his pipe is filled witli
tobacco and put between his teeth, and he is invited to take a "square meal*'
•before starling on his long journey to the spirit land. 8ome clans place the
body in :i hollowed tree trunk, and after drying It on Ji platform in the sun
bury all but the head in an earthen yase. Others sheathe it in pith and dry-
it over a slow fire. One clan hangs it to the beams ot the house for seven
days, and meantime the widow is compelled to sit beneath and spin. The law«i
of inheritance are such that women have no share in property. The estate is
divided in equal shares among the sons, after the youngest has receive<l the
largest portion. The religious notions of the Lushais are mucii like those of
the tribes already noticed.
Southeost of the last named tribe are found the Shendus. who arc even
less well known than the Lushuis. Several attempts have been made by ex-
plorers to penetrate their forests, but with sligiit success. A few facts have
been gleaned by contact with small parties who have approached civilization
in forays or for trade. They appear to be well built and fond of war, and
judging from the arts known to them, possess more than the oixlinary intelli-
gence of hill people. Both sexes are decently clad. Tliey arc familiar with
firearms; and manufacture their own gunpowder. Their houses arc built of
logs and boards, instead of the less durable bamboo. They, like the tribes of
the Ilimillaya, cultivate the soil in terrace fashion, and not by burning a por-
tion of forest and sowing the seed in the ashes, as do their neighbors. The
dead ore buried, not burned, persons of note being placed in a sitting posture.
Beyond a few factH like these we know nothing of the social or domestic char-
acteristics of tlic .Shendus. nor of the extent of their country, which presum-
ably touches Burmf»sc territory, whither they seem to resort for trade.
Southwest of the Liishai and Shcndu country is a district of a similar char-
acter, known us tlie Chittajrong Hill Tracts; where are found numerous hill-
tribes, some of whom are recent immigrants from the north and have been al-
ready described, while others are yet to be nanned. The aboriginal population
is naturally divided into two portions, the Khyoungtha, Children of the Rivei,
and Toungtha, C-liildren of the Hills. The former arc measunibl}' civiliz*»d,
and, as their name implies, occupy the lower land along the streams; while
the latter are more savage, and, keeping to the seclusion of the forest-clad
hills, dread the water and never v(;nture on it in boats. The Khyoungtha
came originally from Arakan. speak a dialect of Arakanese, and profess
Buddhism. Their village communities are under the supervision of a headman
who hohls his office by election. Groups of villages arc under the authority of
chiefs, to whom a yearly tribute is paid. The Chakmas are by far the lar'iest
tribe in these hills, uuinbering nearly IJO.OOO. They an; classed with the Khy-
oungthas on account of similarity of customs, though most of them speak a
dialect of Benjrali. They arc divided into forty clans, each of which has its
headman, who settles petty disputes and collects the yearly poll tax. lie re-
tains a portion of this and turns the remainder over to the chief of the tribe.
The religion of the Chakmas is a mixture of Hinduism and Buddhism. They
adore Gautama and at the same time observe Hindu festivals. They burn their
dead — men with face to the east and women with foce to the west.* The prin-
cipal tribes of the Toungtha living in this district arc, besides some immignints
already noticed, the Kumis, Mros, and Khyengs. who are entirely under Gov-
ernment control, and the Bung's and Pjjnkhos. who pay no revenue, but are
under Bntiijh infiuence. The chiefs of these tribes enjoy authority only so far
as their personal influence extends, and their subjects are always ready to desert
them for some more popular and successful leader.
Marriage Is contracted with little ceremony save feasting and dancing. The
bridegroom must ser^'c his father-in-law three years before the girl is legally
ETHNOLOGIC NOTES. 05
his wife, but in the meantime they live together as if married. Divorce is
granted by the village elders. .The Kumis and Mros are branches of tribes
uving farUier south m Arakan. The former are warlike and fortify their vil-
lages with much skill. They practice slavery, burn their dead, and leave^their
property to the eldest son. They are called Khwey-mi 'dog-men' by the Bur-
mese, Kom the custom of allowing an end of the 'waist-cloth to hang down
behind like a tail
The Mros, *od the other hand, though tall and muscular are timid and peace-
able. They also keep slaves, but bury their dead and leave their property to
the youngest child.
The Rhvengs are a large and widely-extended tribe, being found in the most
inaccessible parts of the mountam region separating British from Independent
Burma, and from the Shendu country to Cape Negrais. Not many are found
in the Chittagong Hills. They are peculiar in tattooing the faces of their wo-
men at maturity, alleging as a reason that it is a protection against bemg kid-
napped. On the occasion of a deatl'., a pig or other large animal is killed, and
a d&id fowl is tied to a big toe of the deceased. The former conveys him on
its back to Paradise, and Uie latter terrifies the worm which guards the celestial
gates. The law of inheritance is tliat the eldest son shall receive two thirds of
Ihe property, and the remaining sons the other third in equal shares. Women
can not hold or transmit property. Each village has a headman, in whose fam
ilv the of&at is hereditary. The Khyengs are able to weave the cloih from
which their clothes are made. The loom, which is a rude nifair, rests partly on
the ground and partly in the lap of the weaver. The tribe onli themselves
Hiou or Shou and claim relationship with the Shendus and Kuniis. Thcv .<^v
that their ancestors once lived farther north on the head- waters of the Kyend-
weng, but can offer no written records as evidence of the fact. The Banjogi
andlVinkho trib^ live mostly east of the Sangu river, aad though closely re-
bembling tlie Lushais in language and appearance, claim to have sprung from
the Shans of Burma. They also relate that their ancestors issued from a cave
in the earth; one of these was a great chief who married G^hI's daughter. At
this time the birds and anima's could talk in inlclligilile langungc, but this was
found to lie an objection, since on being attacked b^' man for fotMl they plead
80 pileously for their livts that no one had the iieart to kill them, (^)n this ac-
count God made I hem ever att<'r dumb.
South-eabt of the Chittas^ong Hills is Northern Aracan, or the Aracan Hill
Tncts. a district embracing 4.000 io 5,<K)0 square miles. The most im]K)rtant
tribes of this region have bei*u already described, and we have only to mention
in ftddition the Anus, who are found on the Tsala river, and who dress like the
Komis. but speak a different dialect and are otherwise little known; and the
Khyaws 'Chnws), who are an offshoot of the Kuki family, from which they
became separatcii at a time and for a reason wholly unknown.
•o-
KTHNOLOGIC NOThS.
BY ALBERT H. (JATSCHKT, WASHINGTON
Prince B^tfattd BonapurU : The InhahiUiutu of Snrinanu-, from notes gathcrrHl
ai the colonial exhibition at Amstenlam in 1883. Paris. Queiilin's presK.
large fol., pp* 227, 2 maps, and 72 plates of illustrations, 1884.
The contents of this French volume, which is of a quite luxurious and co.stly
wterior, are of interest for the general public and exceed th^limits of pun^ly
cthnogmphic research. The types of humanity represented at the Amsterdam
exhibition portrayed so completely' and faithfully the population of Dutch
Qnytna, tfauat a somewhat exhaustive study of these was made po.ssil>le in spite
of the dtetanoe from their native land. In the introduction the author has
>lcetched in cimciae hinguaffe his mode of anthropologic investigation, his meth-
ods for gaining an insight Into the habits, custom^, institutions and language of
* people; he then divides the country into three very dissimilar geographic l^lts;
ihe coast marsh, the savanna, and the primeval forest of the interior. After n*-
THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAK.
viewing the history of colonizaliui - . .
opens wiUi a ske'ch of the Indian populotion, of Ibn sylva
n Guyana, Ihe main portion of the volufoe
_^_._ .... J jptilotion, of tlie sylvan negro, and of the
•edentary negru, the whole richly illustrated hy full-face and profile photo-en-
gnviogB of (he human nubjecta exhibited at Amsterdlam. To this are joined
colorea plalea, IlluBtraling various manufactures and other objects of ethno>
graphic inlerest pertaining to the popiiktlotiB above. Three eeciiona of ludlau^
are establislied: the Kulina or Carib. the Warrau and Arowak, all of wbaw
have retained many of tbeir Ancient Indian charHcleristics. althouRh subjected
to the Influence of European culture for more than a century' So apecimea
of ihu inUirior wild trib^ were exbibited. itnd consequently these were omitted
from the deseriplioti ; the Indians of the coast do not figure up over 800 aoull
at Ihe present epoch; the; do not eaaily asaimilale U> the )-^uropean element
tend to disappear under the influence of fire-water and distemper. Follows a
chapter on customs, habitb and religious beliefs; then from information obtain-
ed tbrough Ibeiie Indians, a new (1) explanation of the couvade or male cliiiil-
bed ia introduced, which la as follows: After Ihe birth of Ibe child the hus-
band lies down in his hamac and the wife takes up her daily occupation after
four or five daya only, whua her condition permits her to do so. From the
first day the father receive:! the conj^mtulatlons of his friends and neighbors
conceroiug the happv event; the general custom forbids him 1o cut down trees,
to kit! large game, to drink strone litjuora during the Brst ilay« of the babe's
existence, for if he did so it wnufd fall sick or die. Custom does not force hiin
exactly to Httty in his eoueh. but only to stay at home and to suspend his dally
work for the time beln^: this enables tbe wife to get the benefit of hU protec-
tion and help at tblH critical period.
The "negroes of tlio bush are runaway slaves or desccndents of sucb, whi^
for more than a century back in time settled along the large rivers deeceudlnc
from the interior and enjoyed freedom once more. This class of ihe Ouyou
population is but little known and thus we are thankful for the enlirely neW
Information presented. It appears that there are about 8. 000 of them, divided
locally into Aucandera. Bekoes. Moeaingas. Saramncanan and Bonis. Their
l>elicfs and customs, on which the volume expatwies at length, are clearly of
African origin and extremely cunous Tbev speak the English Negro-^ariFon
of Suriname. also called tiikitaki, but each division uses special terms besides
those brought from Africa, and the majonly bus preserved the native African
tongiie. in which they convene among lliemselvee. The sedeniarj negroes are
diyided Into plantation negroes and negroes inhabiting cities, these latter form-
ing 47 per cent, of tbe whole colonial population :4peclmens of texta in Ibe
takiiaki Jargon arc appended to this inslnictivi' portion of the liook. A sequd
to this volume is announced by the author himself, and we wish tliat by IH ■
publication be may add a new wreath to tbe laurels which he has so ftilly d»r J
served by giving to the studious public the inlereoling vo1um<' JusI deoc^bcd. I
7V» Kntf'f Kqiiorntioiu '
On Nov- 5, isa2. the explorer Dr. H. Ten Kate, a native of the capit»l of Ihe
Kctherlanils, landt-d on the North American shore fir Ihe purpose of e>i^r-
Ing portions of the 8. W. of the V. S. and ooniieni Mexico. His explonatiaiM
were to be of cihnological character and lu embrace also the purauit nf anthro-
pometrv among Indians, lie ba» just published a voluminous report of hit
cruise wliicb lasted one year and was very fruitful in scieniitic rvsulls. Tb* j
report is whlien in tbe Dutch lauguage. Iteixcu eii Onderaoekingen in Noori ■
America, van Dr. H. C. Ten Kate. Jr.; Leiden. E J. Brill. 18S5. 8 to..
M4. map and two plates representing Indiana and their dwellings. After g-_
Wostby wayofSt. LouisandTexasheflrat visilnlSonomund the soulbenes _
of the Californlan peninsula. He succeeded in finding there graves of tM
Pencil Indians. Irtiose nuiains proved them to have bwn antbrt>pologtca% of
race foreign to the inhahilania of the peninsular further north. The ooi— -"
turtber veiled by bim were tho«e on the Qila river, and Uk Mobave i
on the Colorado river, CenliBl Arixona. tbe Papago and Apache seltlci
Zuni and lie Puehlos of northern New Mexico, souibem flab and the tribs
in tbe Indian Territory His obeerv»iioos lo xoologr and boiAny. in politj
and nalioDal economv are almoel as rich and inieresiioe as thev are in bia o^.
flddof labor, that of'etbnologj-. In tbe latter he payV particular attcnlioB t
piclograpbs. Indian dms. color iiense and the iracine of the Irih^
I
I
UTERAKT NOTE»-BOU£ RBVlBWe.
ItU
«
o their Kyaonymy. It U refresbluK lor na American to read what a
,„ T 8878 atxiut ilio ians, "groceries." squaw men, cuitlcmcii. mid cow-
Jt of tbts WvBt. and uoi leas to the point am tilB puu^ot remarka atwiit IJio
"*!», pollliciana ami ''judfcw," wbo am rciircsuotud In other paru ot the
uy as well
r. Ten Kate 1h also the aullior of several Fi'cucli publlcaiioDs of snialli^r
'" on unwiums. the maietlal to tlitse haviug been supplied to
.sat trip lo America. Durio^ the eummer months of 1884 he
..JentlllR pKTty, under the aiuipices and leoderghip of Prince R.
toPtnlaiid uia Lapoaia: be ia now in Surlname explorini,' 'he in
■Iroplcal KKlun.
I.ITERAUY NOTES,
ftOanola »nli<)iiities are ihe suhitH^t of auolher ullHck. Thlf time it
(iiDin train Colonel Wuiren It A. , atid Dr Ferdinand Dnemmer. This time
dtiulit U thrown upon llie acrurnrv of General D[ beaiiola m in where he found
•mnc of hi* ireaAureH.
IH. DuitKL G. ItRiNTOn:, of PhilndclphtM, hiis been nnnnuncvd as Ijatireale
«l lii» tfgtrtt AmrrieiUiu ilr Kraiuy for ltl65. and awarded ibe medal nf the so-
I'inir for bis wfirks on the Aboriginal laogiiuge of Amerk-a.
Tm tiarrurd CoUiiKe PrRsidenl and (allows hare voted lo cslnhliah a Pen-
l«Jv pro(e«H)r«hip n( Ani«rir*n ■rchreology and elhnologj', and have elected
rrMru'X 'iVanl PninBiu. A. M.. as protestor in iLat dcparinienl.
lll.ft*)(irKl.Biucn, theEgyplnlogialisdeiid. Ite was born in London in 16111.
lir ttu ib« author of a number of Ixioks on E)^yptology and uit^iHled in the
rpviidnnof WiUclnBttn's Egypt.
I- lHHI-a; .1,
v.'ii. ni
ItOOK KKVIEWS
THra Annual Kr/i-Tf ■</■ a-iin«i ■■/ Elhwihig}/ f:
WaHhiiifion. 18M
. Bu iiilen^Biiog and valuable rrport. Ite c<)nti'ut8 are. Inlroduetion bv
■ Ilirpclor; Monogmphs on ilic "llclntlonB of the Maya to the Mexican I'oo-
*." by Cyrue TTinmnii; ' Masks and Ubrelx." by Wm H. Dall: "Oma-
'"-- ■--'.'■ by J. Owen Dorney; "Navajo Weavers." by Dr. \V. MaUhewa;
.1 Textile Fabrics Derived from Pottery," by Wni. FI. Holmes;
d Catalogue of the Collection of 1881." hy W. II. Holmes; " IDus-
InBue of C!ollectlon9 obtained from ihe Pueblos of New Mexico and
1)»1," by James Sievensoo. The volume Is illuslraled by 44 full
. 900 wooil cuts and conlains BU6pagr«. The most intereating arll-
ae by Dr. Thouias. in which he ilcscrllies the calendar armboU of
and Mayo races. It is ningulnr tlint calendars in this country
t* tlir flr»l sign of clvili/aiion, and Ihat Uie prehisloric and hialoriccul-
'Ttii.f -i-.Tii t:i (iloiie on the calendar syslem. The American \and the
■■ '-ry different In tiieir symbols and in their ennmemtlonB.
I " en eslablialiod already. 1»t, That the calemlar|l8 related
' : :M. Thai Ihe cbmuologj and the feaals were expressed,
-i'< iiiiniin and animal tlgur<«. the other by hieroglyph las. 3d.
'ur Ihe uoliits of the I'ompiua, or tour quarters of the sky. were
mdlooi. 4tb, The symbols for the winds were eoniained In
eouroeratixn of the days, months and years were rvpre-
..Apha. 5th. The cross wa«i a symbol which dennted the cardl
'. Tbonuut has llxed some other points Isl, That Ihe Kroupaof
mnieters m the codices are to l>e read from right to left opposite
of the min ad, He has diseovereil Ihe rhameter fiir 31, Oiis^ is
68 THL AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN.
important, because the division of the year was made into 20 months of 13 days.
The article by Mr. Dorsey is also very interesting, as it describee the Crentile
System of the Omahas. The article on Masks is valuable, as it illoslrates some
points in the totem system. The articles on " Textile Fabrics ** iUustrate the
art, especially the industrial arts in prehistoric times.
PrtJiittonc FKshing in Europe and NortM America, by Charles Rao. Smithson-
ian Contributions to Knowledge. 509. Washington, D. C. 1894.
What Dr. Rau does, he does well. Like the monograph on ** Cup Shaped
Sculptures,*' so this on * Prehistoric Fishing.** is is an exhaustive treatise. It
illustrates the implements used bv the cave dwellers, also the sculpturing or
engraving common among them. It then treats of fishing among the lake
dwellers: describes their boats, sinkers and harpoons. Part II. treats of the
fishing implements fouml in North America; the fish books, sinkers, fish cut-
ters anchor stones, paddles, scoops. I' also describes the carved and moulded
images of fishes found in various parts of the countr}'. It describes tlie artifi-
cial shell deposits, and finally quotes from various writings in reference to abo-
riginal filing. The Appendix contains descriptions of sume fish-stiaped silver
ornaments found in the rhincah Islands. The author confines himself strictly
to his subject, but illustrates the different phases of Prehistoric Fishing very
cleAriv. The boi>k will be rez^rded as a standard for manv vears to come.
U'oiidc'np fit' Art *ind Arrh^goittgji, Womie;-* of SeniptHrt : by Louis Viardot.
ll'tMMir'ry <»r* ItUtm MtUinff, by A Sauzay. Rinmut^*, ike Gneat, or Egy^ti S300
Irtim .4^»; translated frvm the Freiich of I>e Lanoye. New York: Chas.
Scribner s Si>ns: i?^V
Thes** three volumes on Arch#ol<^T, prepared by French writers, have a
varied interest and a varied si vie: two of them brilliant und vivactoiis; one
of them somewhat heavy but learned. The first volume, ihat on sculpture,
taktis in the whole range of the history of art from the eariv stone age in Eu-
rope to the latest product> in America. It embraces the £d^yi*(ian. As^^rrian.
Emiscan. Grecian. Ron\an. Italian. Spanish. German
German. Flemisli. English.
French. American It is well illustrated and is a marvel of cfaeapoess. espec-
ially whi'u we cv^nsid^^r the i|uality of the engravings The second, oo glass
maianf . treats ot modem more than am^nt art. It is aUo finely illustrmted
The volume on Kj^ypt is really the nu^t learntxi of the three. The author is a
fine scholar in Eg>*PtoK^\ The UH>k cv^niams >.>me new engraTings: one
repress^nting a bass rvlief of S*^>stris near Sar\iL< The author lakes one posi-
tion whii'ii we hardly think is tumble — th.^i The Hyk^^^. or shefvird kines. had
their starting P^^nt in iVntntl Asi% He. b^-»wevrr. vit^^sonbes the different races
known to the E^ptians. and in this presents ><Hut mirresting facts. His the
OCT i< that the shetjarvl kinp^ x^rvne the E^pti^cs up M^ Nde. b»»l that rbey
oiuied with the EthU^pUns and leturaevi aiiKi t^tjiMishexi the new dvnasU^
which prev:iil«vi f^^r ><' many ytars T!k S>^k i> as * xcelVent sunuBArv and
will be A^uirht U^ U^ t:s iufv>nu4tion . Thr S^r: bsa^rs arv she firjt to eater'upoo
ihts field v^f Arvikev>k>^ with thi- purpoK>e of funiisiiiiij: popuUr rewiiag. hot
we predict they aiv no* :he last. The scaence i> rapcd.y iiTVkwin^ and is destiiwd
to be very jxKHiiar. Tbey havv oolv aa:K^|^:«rd ;:ve ikmin^i a^Utile, We hope
that thev will fiad :he ^i maad U>r such tvvks rrv »:nr. s*^ ft«i to
in ?uniBshic:i i^h«^r vvHumes of the ;5tnH k:..0-
^«- ^*«air:4 < . ^- A"*3<v •TH*»«4i^ voa A*i.*ipiLR*s:.ar: > vo pp. 134.
Ack>C?& ^fcax > TV. . JlfS> >^T^ BeHiai I>$!^ ^Vekiaaaai^-^ rr^^^Zn,,,,
Twv aoaeicvlec; Sx^s :rv>*a isw faaxHss ss;^ft: ohsir^ctcriaed Iw hi»
ttal v'^iTe aad ;^Y0t;2ctL»(f^ o^ vort aad s^>c3d=e^ o^ jvhiciKaK- Mri«ci
wvC wvr*.iiT .^^ issoe li R«:^ Vy v^ie e«:<rprrst:i.c Awrkmot i^NUkt
P
THE
^mcxxcun ^^ntxqnKxmn.
Vol. VIII. Mx\RCH, 1886. No. 2,
DISCOVERIES INT THE MEXICAN AND MAYA
CODICES.
Since the publication of my "Study of the Manuscript Troano"
I have made some discoveries in the pre-Columbian manuscripts
which may be of interest to the few who are devoting at-
tention to Mexican and Central American paleography. As
the illustrations'necessary 1 1 make the methods of discovery plain
cannot be introduced here I must limit my article to somewhat
general statements, referring those who wish to verify them to
the Codices.
I have ascertained that the so-called ** Tahlcau dcs Bacab " of
the Codex Cortesianus and plate 44 of the Fejervary Codex are
calendars, the former Maya, the latter Mexican, (probably Tez-
cucan), and that they are to be read around toward the left oppo-
site the course of the sun ; each line of dots in the loops indicat-
ing a week of thirteen days, and a complete circuit the cycle
of 260 days. A full explanation of these discoveries is given in
the Third Annual Report of the Bureau of ICthnoIogyJust issued.
A still more important discovery is the fact that a large por-
tion of the black numeral characters of all the Maya Codices are
intended simply as counters to indicate the number of days,
months, etc., from one date to another. This may be illustrated
as follows : Counting twelve days from Monday the 4th day of
December brings us to ^^///r^rtj', the i6th. In the Codices the
^y% are represented by symbols, and the counter or interval (as
the 12), by black numeral characters.
The importance of this discovery is shown by the following
&cts: Applying it to the alternate red and black numeral series
ninninjj through the plates of the Dresden Codex, (the red nu-
nicrals indicating the numbers of the days of the Maya week),
Impoitant, bo(»ii«<' '
Tho Article by Mr i
Byitemof tbeOn.
pointa In tlui totem
art, Bspeclflll}- ili
Ian CouTnlxj:, \
What Dr. l: ,
Sculpturw.' s.
illuBtralMi \\v ■
fldilnKiuii '-
^iis iyngrAKiAN.
■^ iiv« indicated cvjn where the
;. te ore enabled to determine the
, .litt' differ from the usual numeral
.;i, t enables us to decide positively
:- raiges of the codices; 4th it as-
.;, ^^omcters ; and 5th, it determines
i ^iS of numbers to the day col-
:,s^v:t in Chap. 7, of my " Study of
' © ®t <
_© ®
(m
Q@_^
/@«
^ .«>.■• I I'"''' '"' '-■^■""I'l'-. ll«il by acidin;;
»^^ owr the d.ij- mlumn and all the black
ffS^K the right wc otaain the interval which
►Swtht second day of the colamn. This
^SJ^^Zaoed in t"y "'"■'' alluded to that these
!*5!Ipe3eelusively t° ^'^'^ months, and hence mod-
*'Uai that work.— thoufih, slran^e t.i say, it does
^condttsion reached— rvr. that the Maya cycle,
Katun, consisted of twenty-four years.
DISCOVERIES IN THE MEXICAN AND MAYA CODICES. 71
I find also that these numeral series always consisted of two
or more complete Maya weeks, or in other words are always
some multiple of thirteen.
In testing this discovery I have ascertained that the character
shown in figure 96, page 159, ** Study MS, Troano," is used as a
symbol of 20 and if phonetic stands for the Maya word Kal; also
that the red diamond-shaped characters are used to denote two
numbers. — 18 and 20 — ; possibly they are used only to signify
the completion of the month and day series and not as symbols
of numbers, as those used for the two purposes are not distin-
guishable, although there is no difficulty in determining by the
connection to which class they apply. The proof in each case is
such as will satisfy the most skeptical mind but cannot be intro-
duced here.
I have ascertained that the black numerals are also used in the
Dresden Codex for other purposes, as, for instance, to indicate
the numbers of the days of the month, the numbers of the months,
and tlic numbers of the years, (probably in the Ahau or Katun,)
Running through the lower division of plates 51-58 of this
Codex is a continuous series of three-day columns, immediately
above which are three horizontal lines of black numerals. The
numbers in the lowest of these lines I find denote respectively
the day of the month (always of a Muluc year) of the first day of
the column over which they stand; the next line above contains
the numbers of the months and the upper line the numbers of
the years. Immediately below the day columns is a horizontal
line of red numerals and below these a line of black numerals ;
the former (the red) indicate the number of months, and the black
the number of days to be counted from the first day of one col-
umn to the first day of the next column to the right. As this runs
through the entire series with but a single miss which appears
to be accounted for by an interpolated day, there is no reason to
doubt the correctness of the theory.
1 have also discovered the relations of the dnys in the tabular
series of plates 46-50 of the same codex. By means of this dis-
cover\' I can restore all of the obliterated days and numbers and
correct the mistakes relating thereto in Kingsborough's work.
By means of these discoveries I have ascertained that plates i
and 2 in Kingsborough's copy of this codex should follow (stand
to the right of) plate 43, and that plates 29 to 43 arc correctly
placed in this work. This proves that Forstemann's supposition
in reference to the order of the plates as given in the introduction
to his photograpic copy is incorrect. But his conclusion, that
there are in this codex parts of two different manuscripts, I be-
lieve is right.
This codex appears to pertain to a much more ancient date
tlian either of the other Maya manuscripts. There are also rea-
sons for believing that it originated in the section in which Palen-
72
THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN.
que is situated and with the people who were the authors of the
inscriptions found on the ruins of that city. At any rate it bears
a close resemblance to these inscriptions.
In the text (if we may so call it) over the figures in some of the
compartments are abbreviated pictographs apparently intended
to represent something in the figure beneath, while precisely the
same things are indicated in the other codices by symbols or
phonetic characters. A few of these peculiar, abbreviated picto-
graphs or conventional signs are found in the Palenque inscrip-
rooooooo
£
■* *
t:oi:> A .-'."j,;:!.;: u^: -it rCi;a:\i t^^ this voicx. which also points
to the r^x-"" \N::cro :: v^r:cinA:o\:. is :>.a: there are found in it a
tew charactvis which ai^iv.ir :.^ h.ivc Ivcn vicrivcvi from Mexican
ft m
tema'c r^rurxs. rvwvsv nt^xi .ist.iki-.i; :\trt :n thv.- rvhic-ous cerenio-
a\%«.^>'- »-»^-. »».v . .vi^.v^> .. *.v.\. ... %*.(. v»..vs.«v.. izicL.c«Aico IS con-
DISCOVERIES IN THE MEXICAN AND MAYA CODICES. 73
siderable, little has been accomplished in the work of deciphering
the hieroglyphics.
The order in which the text is to be read is, I think, now defi-
nitely settled, and is, as shown in my ''Study of the Manuscript
Troano," pp. 136-140. There is one possible exception to this
rule found in what we may call part second of the Dresden Codex
to which plates 70-73 of Kingsborough's copy belong. The
reading here appears to be from the right to the left, while in the
other part of the work — except plates 24, 61 and 62, and possi-
bly 46-50, and 74, — the order is, beyond controversy, by col-
umns and from left to right. Similar changes in direction are
not uncommon in the Mexican manuscripts.
I think I have determined by study and comparison that — as
has generally been supposed. — the texts, in most cases at least,
refer to the figures over which they stand. On this is based
our chief hope of interpreting these characters.
My method of proceeding in attempts at deciphering is as fol-
lows : I discard Landa's alphabet as unsatisfactory for this pur-
pose, relying on the few characters whose phonetic value I think
I hav^e ascertained by careful study and numerous comparisons,
as a basis. For example, the character for 20 being known, I
assume that it is phonetic, then hunt over the codices for the
places where it is inserted in the text, especially where it appears
to be used in combination with other characters to indicate some
object figured in the same compartment. If I find that the Maya
name of the figured object includes the phonetic elements of the
word for twenty {Kal), this is taken as an indication that I am
on the right path. If repeated and different combinations give
similar results the theory is proportionally strengthened.
In this way I have interpreted satisfactorily to myself, some
twelve or fifteen compound characters which appear to be pho-
netic. But while I am convinced that many, probably the larger
portion of these characters arc phonetic, it is certain that quite a
number arc but symbols or conventional figures. Some of the
latter by their connection with other characters and evident rela-
tion to accompanying figures can readily be determined. Several
of these are named by Leon de Rosny in the vocabulary to his
edition of the Code.x Cortesianus.
My study of the Mexican Manuscripts has been incidental to
my other work, and up to this time has been limited almost ex-
clusively to those known as the Horgian and. F'cjervary Codices.
The general signification of many of the plates of the former
is, I think, easily determined. I have not seen Fabrigat's explan-
ation of this Codex, which exists only in manuscript, hence I
may give some interpretations already known.
As is well understood the five honizontal lines of small colored
figures running through the middle of plates 31-33 arc symbols
of the Mexican days arranged in consecutive order so as to rep-
71 THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN.
resent the complete cycle of two hundred and sixty days or thir-
teen months *
This calendar is to be read from right to left, commencing
with the first (right hand) figure of the lowest of the five lines on
plate 38, running thence toward the left, back to the last (left
hand) figure of this line on plate 31. We then go back to the
first (right hand) figure of the fourth (next to the lowest) line on
plate 38, and run back to the left of plate 31, and so on, ending
with the left hand figure of the upper of the five lines on plate 31.
The foot-prints marked at intervals along these lines possibly in-
dicate the positions of the so-called " Lords or Rulers of the
Night."t The two lines of larger figures, one above and the
other below this series, I am inclined to believe are symbolic
representations of the remaining days of the year.
A figure and partial explanation of plate 43, on which there are
four large serpents forming four squares, in which are various
symbolic figures, will be found in my paper in the third Annnal
Report of the Bureau of Ethnology, to which the reader is re-
ferred.
Plates 45-54 form one continuous and unbroken series con-
taining in consecutive order the two hundred and sixt>' days
of the cycle, and symbolic representations of characteristic fea-
tures of the twenty Mexican weeks. The order in which these
arc to be taken, though not peculiar is unusual, — it is as follows:
commencing with the lower half of plate 54. which represents
one week, we run back towards the left through the lower halves
of the pages to plate 45, thence pass to the upper half of this
plate (45) and run to the right through the upper halves, ending
with the figures on the upper half of plate 54. That this is the
order in which thjse fiijures are to be taken is ascertained bv the
succession of the day symbols. In the lower halves of the plates
these run horizontal!}' along the bottom of the page to the left,
then up the left side to the middle of the page, from whence we
go to the lower line on the next page to the left ; and so on to
plate 45, where we pass to the upper lines. On the upper halves
these dav svmbols run horizontallv alouij the central line to the
right and then up the right side.
The chief or general signification of some of the figures in the
squares or compartments can be determined with reasonable cer-
tainty. l'\>r example, those in the lower half of plate 54 show-
that the seasim is yet ^sufficiently cold to require fire in the
liouses. which is indicated by the smoke escaping through the
roof of a house.
Passing toward the left through the lower halves I find denoted
on plate 50. as I think, the commencement of the rainy season ;
* The rr.nlor i^ pn*<umr«.l t.^ know ih.it the Moxio.in aiul Maya vears cnnust each of eighteen
miMith^. th^• ni »:itJ»s .-t iv^vMUv J >v< e.i.'h; .iiul the wcrlj'4 .»f ih:rt!'.«si li.iys e:»ch. Also that i:T b<"»th
c.ilciul.ir'. ttierc arr four si'nc< «^! yc.irs Inrarini differf::t njinc'i.
1>*<' n.iM .Ti't;*'' N.\iivo K .vc*. Vol. II. |i;». 515-51'*
DISCOVERIES IN THE MEXICAN AND MAYA CODICES 75
>i:x the next plate (49) are indications of the budding and flower-
ng* of plants. In the next (48) Tlaloc, the god of rain, appears
^-ith increased vigor and the flooding of the streams is manifest;
i-i the next (47) the growth of the Maguey plant and the time
>r making pu/(///c are indicated ; in the next (46) we see the con-
linuation of the rainy weather and the beginning of the sickly
reason denoted ; and in the next (45) the result, — death appears
a.nd the victims are consigned to their graves.
Passing to the upper half and running to the right through
x\\G plates I find nothing I can interpret until I reach plate 49,
which I think indicates the season for cutting timber and build-
ing houses. Plate 5 1 (upper half) probably represents the season
for hunting game, especially the wild turkey; and 52 is the re-
turn of cold weather when fire is again necessary.
The chief difficulty in the way of this interpretation is that the
number of days in the series as here given, is but two hundred
and sixty, a little less than three-quarters of a year — but the
same difficulty arises in attempting an explanation of the tonal-
amatl or calendar on plates 31-38, heretofore alluded to.
Plates i-io which are to be taken in the reverse order to the
paging are probably cosmogonical. 10 and 3 appear to be fanci-
ful symbolic representations of the home and origin of the winds
and clouds. In these the central idea seems to be that the winds
have their origin in the clouds, but they appjar to be in some
way connected with death and thL* und^r world. We observe in
the broad border of plate three (which extends into plate two)
the four birds so frequently connected with crosses in these cod-
ices, and, what is strikingly significant, at o:: : point in this bor-
der, three small but regularly formed (ireek crosses.
In plate nine the chief idea is rain. The broad surrounding
band forming the square has a Tlaloc head in the center of the top
line, the body or band having the outer portion of clouds from
which the rain drops are falling towards the center or inner space.
In the inner space of the inclosed circle are two wind symbols ;
in the four corners outside of the circle are four Tlalocs, three
of them bearing crosses and one a water symbol.
Plate 12 represents Tlaloc in various aspects having some ref-
erence to the four years or series of years of the Mexican calen-
dar. Hut the important thing found on this plate is, that here
we have clearly indicated the days with which the years respect-
ively begin — via. the Acatl (or cane) year with Cipactli (or drag-
on 1; the Tecpatl (or flint) year with Miquiztli (or death); the
Calli (or house) year with Ozomatli (or monkey) ; and the Toch-
tli (or rabbit) year with Cozcaquauhtli (or vulture), precisely as I
haxxj given them on page 32 ofthj third Annual Report of the
Bureau of Ethnology.
I am aware that only readers who have access to copies of the
codices will take any special interest in these discoveries, but the
78 THE AHEItlCAN ANTliiUAHIAX.
Amekicas Ak tiqcarian can afford to be the medium of occasid
al communication to the few workers in this particular field,
CVKL-s Tiir
NOTKS ON NATIVE AMERICAN POTTERY.
The Pueblo Indians of New Mexico and Arizona have for cq
turies manufactured a fictile ware ivhich dilTers widely from t
ceramic productions of any other people. It is characterized h_
peculiar glois or lustre, not found in the pottery of other tribi
and also by a distinctive style of ornamentation, which, uhp
lacking the essential features of artistic conception, possesses t
merit of originality and frequently produces a pleasing elTe|
The modern ware is generally decorated with intricate geomd
cat devices, ornamental combinations of straight and curved I'
and paintings of animals, such as the deer, elk, bear, squirrel, sj
pent, frog, dragon-fly, tadpole, etc., which are almost invari;^
represented with a triangular heart connected with the mouth h
narrow passage. In the majority of the Pueblo villages
vessels are made in the form of animals or bird.-;, ai may be a
in the accompanying engravings from the Second Annusl Rcn
of the Bureau of Ethnology, being representations of speclm
now in the National Museum at Washington, D. C. Tlie ti
illustration represents a modern Zuni meal-jar or watcr-bow
common form, divided into three horizontal zones by plain In
of black pigment. The decoration in the two lower zones consq
of conventional floral de-iigas with figures of animals, probj
NOTES ON SATUE AMEIUC.VX POTTEltY. 77
Eendctl for sheep. Fig, 2 n;presents a waler-bottie rrom La-
uia in the rorm ofa ram, with the orifice ia tlie top of the head.
: eigniving Is
'tzi: of ine
Rginal. In tliis^
1 the two suc-
Hfing examples
" "y has been sac-
id for ornamtii-
plcfll-ct. Such ves-
t are obviously
ifficuh to carry.
^ many such spcc-
Bcfi-sa scmi-circu-
■ iKindlL-. some-
like that of
I ortJinary (lat-
'li attached to
t upp!.T portion.
J have before me ' '^ ''
^.small vessel of this character fashioned in imitation of a
tonj; <lu;k with a circular handle attached at the neck and tail.
p idra is carried out in Fig. .?, from Zuni. represented yj
natural size, which has
been made in the .sem-
blance of an Indian
muccasin. with a han-
dle at the heel. On
each side is a painting
I of a female deer, but, in
s instance, without
the triangular heart,
■'ig, 4 is an engraving
of an unusually fine
specimen of Zuni
ftrk iqjrcscnting a mother owl with three little ones perched
|lllcrback,also reduced to '^ the size of the original. Theowl is
bqacntly Fcptx:sented in theceramic productioasoflhesx: people.
"" ifcls. nowcvtr. are manufactured in a countless variety of forms.
lagaicra! way, itmav be said, the most prominent distinguishing
istics of modern Puebloware arc thj animal decorations
h triangular hearts, painted on plain vessels, and ih-.; mould-
loft'csscls intoainimal forms. A type of the mo.st common
I, probably, is Fig. i, Globular, canteen-shaped bottles, with
d backs, and a looped or ear .shaped handle set perpcndic-
y on cacli side, are, perhaps, almost as common in daily use.
Kflilcient Pueblo ware, found in the debris of ruined buildings.
, tt-hile of similar quality and character, difl'ers ficmithe
78 THE AMEHICAN ANTIQUAIUAN.
modern considerably in the form of the vessels, and is seldon
found with the animal decoration. One of the most characteri^
tic forms of the ancient w
which I beUcvc. seldom,
never occurs in the model
manufactures, is thebcer-r
form. — a straight cylinderw
handle extending the enti
length of one side.
enough for the insertion i
the hand of the drinker.
Let us now turn to the pel
tcry of ancient Mexico. '" '
is as truly characteristic i
tiiat of nny other Ameria
people but is less abundant y
collections, and is not so '
ried in form or ornamentatt(S|
as that of ancient Peru.
most abundant variety is r
of tcrra-cotta, colored blac^
and usually ornamented
vig. 4. the most elaborate ma
with serpents, idols, and grotesque creatures, in relief, and c
possessing feet on which to stand. The finest example. howev<
: under my notict
i the beautiful
near Tolui
and deposit-]
ed in ihef
Metropoli-
tan Museum
New York.
by Dr. Rob- [
crt H. Lam-g
born. It i
twelve inch-
es in height, and of a bright
ware, exceedingly fine and smooth. I
Fig. 5 presents two vicwsof this inter- 1
esting specimen. A noteworthy feature is the peculiar ringshapj
ed car ornament, similar to those which occur in a clay i
from Cciitra! America and a tuiicjuc stone pipe from Ohio, botll
;' which are owned by Mr. Andrt;\v E, Djuglass, of New York
The pottery of Central Am3rica. particularly Costa R'ca and
\icarag\ia is best known by its tripod vas.;s and shoe-shaped
^burial urns,
^^hn Peru the Ancient war^ varies according to its ag^ and the
^^nlity where it is found. Many sections or provinces posses
^^(ir distinctively marked varieties. In the region north of Lima
' tlic most throughly explored cemeteries are those of Samanco,
Chimbotc, Chepcn, Nep;na, Cajamarca and Trujillo. The pottery
Trom these places is generally of a fine-grained, light clay — most-
ly red but sometimes black In those jars moulded to represent
tiic Iiuman form the heads and faces are usuallj well executed
bul the bodies and limb'; ii l contortud and di proportionate. At
Kc'cuay. north of 1, hm t 'mnlr d and sjvtv \ase5 \v::rc dug
up recently vvhicli l.' ' ul^k^blc peculiarities. They
~ ire TJi nndc of the finest
ivhite ur light red clay
with (niamental figures
of animils, etc., in black
and rtd The faces of
th men arc peculiarly
uniform m outline, being
rtprcsented with large
u|uilme noses, wide
uihs and thin iips.
Iv different from
111 ir representations
und in other localities.
This Avarc i.s believed to
be older than that found
at Trujillo, Ancon, etc.,
and IS probably pre-In-
canal At Ancon a
most beautiful variety
of wire has been found,
\nth pleasing checquer-
Ld ornamentation in rod
ind u hite. The charac-
tLTiiln. form is that of
the ancient Greek Am-
phoia tall and slender
nth pointed base, small
crtiLal uar-shaped loops
at t!ic nei,k and an extra
d larger horizontal handle midway between but lower down
'ftlhcDody. The finest example of this form in the United
80
THE AMEHICAN ANTIQUARIAS,
States is probably that in ihe Vaux collection in Philadelphia,
which is three or four feet in hpight
Portrait vases from Trujillo and other cemeteries are models of
artist ic workm anship. Some of thcss are simply heads open at
^^^^^^ the top, whilst others are surmounted by a
JL^^^V syphon shaped tube, answering the purpose
^^S^^^^J '^'^s spout and handle. These were probably
^^^^^^^^^^ used as drinking vessels, somewhat similar in
^^^9^^^^^^^ design to the ancient Greek Rhyton. Many,
^■fagg^^^^Vif not the majority, of these syphon- hand led
^^^^^^^^^ vessels, with plain, globular bodies, are em-
^^y^^^^ bellishcd with a minute figure of a monkey
in relief, placed in the angle of one side of the terminal spout.
In the basement of the Metropolitan Museum may be seen a
most exquisite water-bottle of this form. The ground is of a
rich, ivory white and representations of warriors with javelins
SOTEa ON NATIVE AMERICAN POTTERY.
91
I Hhiclds and artistically painted on the sides, in dark red.
re also in the same collection two finely modelled por-
:s. one with a syphon spout and the other of the same
aractcr. moulded in the form of a human figure with crossed
A particularly interesting example in the same case is the
c (cviaently intended aa an individual portrait) representing a
hman head with one blind eye, somewhat similar to Ihc ex-
J»Ic. here figured (Fig. 6, p. 79), from Dr. Jose M. Macedo's
^ cction. in Lima, In a neighboring case is an unusually fine
Kk vessel moulded in the shape of an alligator and measuring
a foot in length, Much of the black ware of the Incas was
'■ ifccorated in low relief, with engraved or etched figures produced
liy means of sharp instruments after the pottery had been
iritd. A vase of this character (see Fig. /, p. 80) is in the
N'nlion»l Museum at Washington. It is ornamented with fig-
jre* of birds imd fishes, the handle being moulded in imitation
|f a monkey, hi Fig 8, p. So, ihrcc portrait vases from the
Ibccdo collection are represented, one of which is a laughing
: and another a caricature of old nge. The upper figure
scnts one of the syphon vases with the upper portion of the
pout wanting, A considerable number ofvessels in the form
[ifiihcs, generally of bl.iclc w.ire, have been found in old Peru*
1 burLiI phices, such as the cxaiiiple rejiresented in Fig- 9.
62 THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN.
which is also in the collection at the National Museum. Tv
similar examples are owned by the Numismatic and Antiquari
Society of Philadelphia. Large and valuable collections
American pottery may be seen in the public museums at Was
ington, Cambridge, New York, and Philadelphia. It is a matt
of much regret that these cannot be united into one magnificer
collection and so arranged that students may, under one roof,
enabled to compare the best examples from different localities an^
stud}'^ their peculiarities, without incurring the expense and bein
subjected to the inconvenience of traveling from city to city
Possibly, at some future time, such a desirable state of affairs ma
be brought about.
Edwin A. Barber.
•o-
PERMANENCY OF IROQUOIS CLANS AND SACHEM-
SHIP.
For some time it has been claimed that the Iroquois tribal sys-
tem evinced wonderful foresight, and that the names and apportion-
ment of the sachems continue as they were at the first. We are
asked to believe that a savage or two, some hundreds of years
ago conceived and established an intricate political and social sys-
tem, with wise checks and powers, needing no improvement, and
perfectly adapted to every emergency. Wise regulations there
were, but their antiquity and orirun may well be called in ques-
tion. Impressed with the practical nature of much that is real,
we might be carried away by enthusiasm, and find more perma-
nence and far-sccing wisdom than actually exists. This appears
in the descriptions of the totems and tribes, and the limitation and
perpetuation of the sachem's office. The tribal division is indeed
curious and interesting, without goingto extremes, but too much
has been claimed for it.
The Iroquois confederacy seems originally to have been a loose
union of the Five Nations, gradually becoming firmer. When
Champlain went against the Onondagas in 1615, there was no
fear that the neighboring Oneidas would come to their aid. When
the French colonists set out from Quebec, in 1656, the Mohawks
maltreated their Onondaga escort, and the fear of a war with that
nation alone moderated their violence. In return thef Ononda-
gas plundered a party of Mohawks farther up the river. The
same year the Onondagas convoked the allied nations "to recon-
cile the Mohawks with the Senecas,who were on the point of com-
mencing a war." The powers of the Grand Council at first were
very limited. ** Every year they hold a general assembly at
Onondaga, where all the deputies of the other nations meet to
make their complaints, and receive the necessary satisfactions,
PERM.VNENCY OF IROQUOIS CLA.NS AND SACHEMSfflPS. 88
by mutual presents, by which they best keep on good terms with
each other." Every nation made war or peace for itself. The
Grand Council simply removed grievances, though sometimes,
and gradually more and more, treating of general perils and ad-
vantages.
Aside from this were Iroquois institution > permanent? No one
who studies the history and customs of that interesting people
can well assert this. When we remember the many things in-
fluencing them within and without, we arc prepared for great
changes. Wampum belts and strings appear in all their treaties
in historic times, and yet it is certain there was an Iterlier pe-
riod when they knew nothing of Wampum. It is an absurdity to
date any existing belt as early as the formation of the league.
The pipe of peace is popularly supposed to have figured in all
their councils, as smoking certainly did, but there was a time
when the striking features of the calumet seem to have been un-
known to them. As late as the early part of the last century
some western Indians explained the meaning of the pipe of peace
as though it were new to the N. Y. Indians. Their burial customs
chvinged greatly, and their present feasts and dances are not those
of the olden time. The great white dog feast is. its leading fea-
tures seems to have been known only to the Senecas ico years
ago. The Jesuits first, and Con-ya-tan-you afterwards twice
revolutionized their religious system. Their mode of building de-
generated according to Charlevoi.x. The early and late stockades
were not alike, and the use of guns changed warfare. They no
longer wore defensive armors or depended on bows and arrows.
Clothing and cooking varied as well as agriculture.
All these things happened naturally. They were in constant
intercourse with the French and English and at war with distant
nations. They not only saw many tribes and customs, but they
adopted other Indians by hundreds. Large villages of the captive
Hurons were placed among the Cayugas and Senecas, and hun-
dreds of Hurons, Neutrals and Eries were received by the others.
In later days one object of war was to strengthen themselves by
adopting ciptive warriors. To say that all this produced no
change in laws and customs, is to fly in the face of all experience.
The wonder is that anything of Iroquois character remained.
The Totemic Bond as it is sometimes called, has naturally
av/akcned admiration by its results. In a broad way it may
be said that in each confederate nation were certain tribes or
clans, who were brothers wherever they met. The Mohawk Bear
was received and aided by the Cayuga Bear; the Oneida Turtle by
the Seneca Turtle. In each nation some tribes of differing to-
tems were also brothers. These things caused a bond which was
not merely national, which strikes us as a very wise plan if there
-were not more of accidents and afterthought than of actual de-
sign found in it. But tribes and totems varied in the different na-
84 THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN.
tions, and what becomes of original design when a tribe in one,
finds no corresponding tribe in another? In the natural course
of events, there soon begins another change.
Were these tribes the same at all times? In his "League of
the Iroquois " Mr. L. H. Morgan announces eight tribes for each
nation in a general way, divided into two brotherhoods. The
Bear, Wolf, Turtle and Beaver form one; the Deer, Snipe, Heron
and Hawk form the other. Some writers make one class super-
ior to the other, considering its numbers alone eligible to office,
Mr. Morgan makes no such distinction, and indeed assigns the
sachemships among the Onondagas and Scnccas to seven
tribes, existing when the league was formed. In his list the
fourteen Onondaga Sachems of the Grand Council were of the
Wolf, Bear, Beaver, Turtle Snipe and Djer tribes, while the eight
Seneca sachems were of the Wolf, Bear, Turtle Snipe and Hawk;
and in these clans, he says, they were perpetually hereditar}'. His
e.xact division gives the Mohawks and Oneidas throe tribes each;
the Onondagas, Cay ugus and Senecas, eight tribes; and the Tusca-
roras seven. This does away with any true plan, for wise design
would not have left five tribes without members in two nations.
Mr. Morgan may be right when he says that the Totemic
Bond "furnishes the chief reason of the tenacitv with which the
fragments of the League still cling together," though what bond
exists between the Seneca Deer and anv trib^' of the Mohawks
he does not state; but he is too enthusiastic when he adds, "The
historv of the Ho-de-no-sau-nee exhibits the wisdom of these
organic provisions; for during thj long pjriod through which the
league subsisted, they never fell into anarchy, nor even approxi-
mated to dissolution from internal disorders.*' If they did not.
we have alreadv seen that it was because the G.-and Council set-
tied disputes, not because of the mutual afiection of the seoarated
clans. To my mind these wore accidents, not wise organic pro-
visions. At a later dav the Canadian Mohawks refused to fiiiht
the Ea<tLrn Iroquois, but their scruples vanished when they were
led against the Senecas. Nationality was stronger than clanship.
Indian statement'^ and tradition^ are conflict in j;. and often worth
ver\' little, but if it is true that "tradition dcclarosth.it the Bear
and Door were the original tribes, and that the res: were subdi-
visions." this in itself implies change. Wiion Mr. Morgan first
wrote, the clans were more in some nations than he seems to
have known, and have been even greater in times past. He did
not then mention the Ke! tribe, now the largest clan of the X. Y.
Onondagas. In his "House Life ' he gives quite a different list.
That ot the Tu^earoras is not like one futnished me by an intelli-
gent Indian born and bred among them. The Kel is 'mentioned
among the Onondagas. Cayugas and Tuscaroras. The Ball is
substituted for the Hawk among the Onondagas, doing away with
both the Kagle and Heron. If such changes have occurred in
PERMAIN'ENGY OF 'IROQUOIS CLANS AND SACHEMSIIIPS. 85
hi c clans, it is probable that the sacheniships have in no way '
:lianged? And then it maybe asked, are these lists reliable?
J am told that all of the Eel clan, living among the Tuscaroras
ire actually Onondagas; that the Bear clan hab ceased to exist
>ri the X. Y. Onondaga reservation, although this may be a mis-
slVcc; and that the Ball clan never had an existence. Mr. Mor-
gan's error in this seems to have come from one of the varying
rtiawatha legends. In this he came to a party of Oneidas, rest-
ing by a large stone, and he said: "These are the People of the
Stone." The next party sat under a spreading tree and he called
"them the People of the Great Tree. •■ At the first village of the
Onondagas all were playing ball and were named accordingly; the
next were on a hill-top, and they became the People of the Hill. '->
This seems to be all there is of the Ball clan.
In writing on Iroquois customj in 1771, Sir William Johnson
said, "Every nation is divided into a certain number of tribes, of
which some have three, as the Turtle, Bear and Wolf; to which oth-
ers add the Snake, Deer, etc.; each of these tribes form a little
community in the nation, and as the nation has its peculiar sym-
bol, so each tribe has the peculiar badge from whence it is de-
nominated, and a sachem of each tribe being a necessary party
to a fair conveyance, such sachem affixes the mark of the tribe
thereto.** He seems to say that sachems were chosen from all
the tribes. The principal ones may have been intended, for at a
council held in Albany in 1700 at which a multitude of sachems
were present, a business conference was held with some apart from
the rest. They brought in others, saying that "all business of mo-
ment was to be transacted bv the three ensisfns that the five na-
tions consisted of, to-wit: the Bear, the Wolf and the Turtle; and
therefore one from each of these tribes or ensigns in each na-
tion was to be present."
Yet in Morgan's list the Cayugas had po sachem of the Wolf
tribe. So also, the Seneca sachem, Kanakarighton, who signed the
important deed of 1 726,seems to have been of the Heron tribe which
this list does not credit with a sachemship, and in another treaty
the same totem appears. In the treaty made between the French
and the four western nations in 1665, the six Onondaga embassa-
dors affixed "the distinctive mark of their tribes the Bear, the
Wolf and the Tortoise." Ten Seneca and ten Oneida embassadors
ratified the same treaty, being necessarily sachems.
In the N. Y. Doc. History, Vol. i., p. 3 under date of 1666, a
French writer describes nine Iroquois tribes, with illustrations.
The Tortoise,Wolf, Bear and Beaver are the first division, called
fourtribes, the Deer, Potato, Great Plover, Little Plover and Ea-
gle are the second, called five tribes. This is much like the pres-
ent Long and Short House of the Onondagas. The animal of
the tribe was painted in the gable end of the cabin, in black or
^- In national councils one divsion ranged itself on one side
86 THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN.
of the fire, the other being opposite. A warrior tattooed him-
self with the signs of his nation and tribe, and lastly with his
own mark.
Time brought changes, and twenty years later a Frenchman,
adopted by the Senecas, gave another enumeration. "The five
villages which belong to the same tribe, have for their arms in
common, the Plover, to which I belong; the Bear, the Tortoise,
tlie Eel, the Deer, the Beaver, the Potato, the Falcon, the Lark,
and the Partridge.'* These are ten in number, and some appear
in no other list. The Wolf is left out and one of the Plovers, the
Eel, Lark, and Partridge are introduced. There is doubtless an
error here in omitting the Wolf, but it seems certain that new
clans were growing up. No mention is made of the Heron.
In Clark's History of Onondaga, eight are enumerated, the
four superior tribes being as usual; but he adds that "the in-
ferior clans, arc the Deer, Eagle, Heron and Eel, from which
civil chiefs may not be elected." He probably reckons both the
Snipes or PlDvers under one head, as the Heron; a clan of which
accounts are confusing. The Onondagas disclaim it. The Po-
tato tribe seems to have disappeared altogether. Mrs. E. A.
Smith gives the division of the Onondaga clans for the games,
as uniting on one side, the Bear, Deer, Eel and Hawk, against
the Wolf, Beaver, Snipe and Turtle.
At no time does there seem to have been more than the Bear,
Wolf and Turtle tribes among the Mohawks, and these at first
dwelt in separate villages. It is now understood that the Lark
and Partridge have been in some way introduced among them.
An Oneida chief tells me there are but the Bear, Wolf and Tor-
toise among the Oneidas now.
One striking feature of the Iroquois totem system was, that
members of a clan must marry into another, the children being of
the mother's tribe. Yet the Oneida chief mentioned, whose fath-
er was an Onondaga of the Snipe tribe, calls himself a Snipe, and
is so considered. Some assert that the originally superior and infer-
ior clans could not marry into their own class with the awkward
consequence, that the three tribes of the Mohawks and Oneidas
could not marry at all.
The system of Iroquois sachcmships has been represented as
inflexible and commemorative in names and numbers. Doubtless
there has been some attempt at both but without full success.
Under the circumstances we reasonably look for changes from
time to time. Morgan's scheme, obtained at a Grand Council,
makes fifty sachems form the Grand Council, all permanently as-
signed to certain nations and clans. According to the original
compact, he says, two of the first Mohawk sachems had no suc-
cessors, reducing their representation to seven, and making the
whole number forty-eight. Of these, three tribes of the Mo-
hawks had nine; three of the Oneidas, nine; five of the Ononda-
FERXAnSNCT OF IROQUOIS CLANS AHD SACHEMSHIPS. B7
gas, fourteen ; six of the Cayugas, ten ; five of the Senecas. eight ;
leaving the Tuscaroras unrepresented. In considering this, one
stitcment of his becomes important. He says, " The several sa-
chems, in whom, when united in general council, resided the
supreme power of the League, formed, when apart in their own
territories, the ruling bodies of their respective nations. • ' *
The nine Mohawk sachems administered the affairs of that na-
tion with joint authority, precisely in the same manner as they
ili-l, in connection with their colleagues, the affairs of the League
it large." When we remember what the original powers of the
Grand Council were, this seems hardly correct.
Were these offices thus unchangeable in number and appor-
t^iinmcnt ? I might refer to the present condition of the Ononda-
..is, but it might be hardly fair, so much are they changed, and so
itllf do they know of their own laws. It will be better to turn
:<' liistorj-. At a council in Albany, June 2, [691, the names of
.1^ (Ineida sachems present, were recorded; of eleven Ononda-
.is, four Cayugas. and eleven Senecas. On September 4. of the
line year, two other Oneida sachems were present, and six Sen-
ecas from another castle, making seventeen Seneca -sachems act-
n;; in a Council far from their homes, where Morgan's list
ukcs the full number but eight.
.\t another council held in Albany, August, 1700, there were in
.I'cndance eleven Mohawk sachems, six Oneidas, eleven Ononda-
j,^s. elcx-cn Cayugas, and eleven Seneca sachems, besides many
;. Ming Indians. This gives sachems in excess of the list to three na-
::()ns. Still farther, when Lord BeMoniont asked these fifty sa-
ditms whether they would name the sachems to select a place
fjr a fort at Onondaga, they answered. " that they could be better
n.imetl at Onondaga, where there were a great many." At the
iiine time a sachem from each of the four western nations was in
Canada
Mii^r Dirck Wessell's journal at the council at Onondaga, in
■■ ',., I-' 1^3. would seem conclusive as to the large number of
I iL.b.rs. He persuaded the Mohawks not to attend tlie coun-
i - ■ ili.ii but four nations were present. The whole house met,
intl "there being eighty sachems present, Kajarsanhondare made
insurer," This can only be understood of the Grand Council as
toTiftitutcd two hundred years ago.
In r6^ the Onondagas said they had sent nine sachems
I'T Canada with nine belts, and were uneasy at having
truucd almost half the sachems of their nation with the
ln.^c!i At Col. Schuyler's visit in April, i/co, twelve
'" il].;a sachems arc mentioned by name, and their speaker
'■:■'.. jid, " most of the sachems of this castle are abroad."
.\t i conference in July, 1701, nine Mohawk sachems were
iKTittii. and twelve Onondagas, while some sachems of the latter
ircrc in Canada. The following year, while eleven Onondaga sa-
1
88 THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN.
chcms were at Albany, nearly as many were with the Frcncr^li
Governor.
The modern list gives the Senecas eight sachems. In Ma
1720, Myndcrt Schuyler held a conference in the Seneca countr
When he reached there, some of the sachems were abroad, slitm. d
these, and those at Onaghee were sent for. Four came fro xti
Onaghee but wished to consult again with the sachems rema.i mn-
ing at their own castle. At the request ot the commissioner xrs
they restored a former sachem. It seems unfair to consider tl"B.e
full number less than twenty.
King Hendrick's example might be citjd, he having been <:i ex-
posed, and som:j years later restored ; a thing not easily donc^ if
the number were absolutely fixed, for what place could he fi II ?
All theso things seem conclusive in proving that the number of
sachems was variable, larger than now represented, and on a ^zziif-
ferent apportionment.
Were the transmitted or conferred titles permanent? Sevcr^r^^
writers assert that they are the same that they were in the be^^S^^'
ning, as we doubt not some of them are. There is evidence ^^
the other side, as in the treaty of 1664, leaving out the names -^5?'
which sachems were commonly known. In June, 1 701,
Onondagas and Cayugas both acquainted the Council with
deaths of chief captains, and appointed others with the s
names, but these names do not appear in the modern lists,
same was the case when the chief sachem of Cayuga introdu^
two new Seneca sachems to Sir William Johnson in 1750, and*
nounced their new titles. They are not on the list of the sr
posed original sachems.
On the choice of sachems Sir William Johnson remarked ^ '
1 77 1, that they " are usually chosen in a public assembly of W
chiefs and warriors whenever a vacancy happens by death ore* ^^^
erwise. They are generally chosen for their sense and brave. "^^^J
from among the oldest warriors, and approved of by all the iri^C^
on which they are saluted sachems. There are, however, sev^"*^^^
al exceptions ; for some families have a kind of inheritance int^JV.
office, and arc called to this station in infancy." He clearly d^^'^"
tinguishes between sachems and chiefs.
Essentially Mr. Morgan takes much the same view /^'
changes, when, admitting the necessity of raising up chiefs wiC^-^"
out limitation of number, he says that now '* they have rais-^^
themselves to an equality in many respects, with the sacher*^^
themselves." He says also of the Tuscaroras, that "they we^^
never allowed to have a sachem who could sit as an equal in tll^
council of iiachcms." But, he adds, "They also enjoyed a nomi-
nal equality in the councils of the League, and their sachenns
were rai.sed up with the same ceremonies. " This seems a
distinction without a difference. As early as 1722 the Tuscaro-
PERMANENCY OF IROQUOIS CLANS AND SACIIEMSiriFS. 89
ras became parties to a treaty establishing^ peace, and regulating
boundaries, and they always appear afterwards.
As the line of descent is through the mother, it is often said
that the son of a sachem or chief cannot be a chief, but, Kakedoa,
the son of Bunt, chief sachem of Onondaga, was introduced to
Col. Guy Johnson as a sachem, one of the great men that ruled
over them. At the same time eleven recently appointed Onon-
daga sachems were present. Other like historical in.stancjs occur.
In a case under my own eye, a father, son and grand son have
successively been prominent chiefs of the Onondagas, the last
two at least, members of the Grand Council.
Mr. Morgan says, on this point, '* Logan was one of
the ten Cayuga sachems, but which of the ten names or sachem-
ships he held is not at present ascertained. His father Shikelli-
mus or Shikalimo, who is usually mentioned as a Cayuga sa-
chem, was but a chief" This seems mere assertion, and as Shi-
kellimus was Executive Deputy of the Iroquois Grand Council
at Shamokin, and as such ruled the Djlawares; it is improbable
that he was not of the highest rank.
My own experience is, that the Iroquois themselves are not
very clear as to their own usages, and their ideas of antiquity are
little to be trusted. The facts stated, plainly show that the num-
ber and names of the sachems have not been the same at all
times : that hereditary rights must be understood in a general
way ; and that the varying division into clans was rather acciden-
tal than the result of wise forethought.
There remains but one question more. Have the original
ceremonies for raising sachems come down to us? This is impos-
sible, unless in a general way. One tradition is, that at one time
no one could recall them except one old woman. Wampum en-
tered largely into those ceremonies, and no wampum is found on
prehistoric Iroquois sites, though something might have sup-
plied its place. But we find from time to time evident changes,
French and English governors had something to do with the ap-
pointment and institution of sachems. When Hendrick and
another sachem were killed, both were mourned, but only one
new sachem was at once raised up. Sir William Johnson could
not attend, though his presence w'as desired, but sent the neces-
sary belts, and asked the Mohawk sachems to act for him. The
Oneidas and Tuscaroras alone condoled with the Mohawks at
this time, and they complained that the Onondagas, Cayugas and
Senccas had passed by without attending. The baronet spoke
of their customs, and the rules laid down bv their wise ancestors.
The same month he condoled the dead and replaced them with
prisoners, the account concluding with these words: "Thus
ended the ceremony necessary on those occasions, agreeable to
their customs."
When, a little later, the Canajoharie Mohawks presented one
90 THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN.
of their most capable men to succeed Tarrachioris of the Turtle
tribe, as sachem, Sir William Johnson said, " I now, in the pres-
ence of your whole castle, invest him with all the powers of a
sachem, and put on him those necessary marks of distinction
which I wish him long life to wear." This, however, was aside
from their own ceremonies of mere condolence, but was accepted
as an institution into office. Among themselves condolence and
raising of sachems did not always go together. They mourned
Hendrick, but chose no successor at once.
Several times we have accounts of institutions in full council,
in the simplest possible manner. The announcement of the
choice and title, the giving of a little wampum to each nation,
ended the matter. When Johnson began to clothe and adorn
the newly chosen sachems, a desire for a more elaborate cere-
mony sprang up, and may have partially crystallized into per-
manent forms.
The condoling ceremony in which the baronet shared at
Onondaga, at the death of Kaghswoughtiooni, chief sachem
of that nation, is interesting, and may be compared with other
like occasions. Three Cayugas met him a mile east of the castle,
** to settle the formalities of the condolence, agreeable to the an-
cient custom of the Six Nations." This took two hours, though
Sir William and the sachems of every nation had prepared proper
sj>ccchcs, and chosen proper belts for the ceremony, three days
before. The baronet ** marched at the head of the sachems
singing the condoling song, which contains the names, laws and
customs of their renowned ancestors, and praying to God that
their deceased brother might be blessed with happiness in his
other stat.\ This cerwMiiony was performed by" Mohawk and
Oneida saclv.^nis, Wh^Mi they came in sight of the castle they
saw the silent warriors and sachems sitting in a half circle across
the road. Here the condoling song was sung by the visiting
sachems, and those of Onondaga shook hands and welcomed
them to their town. Sir William marched at the head of the
warriors, the sachems falling behind and continuing their song.
Within the gate salutes were fired, and " the sachems proceeded-
to a grocn bower adjoining to the deceased sachem*s house, pr^ —
paixxl on purpose.*' When they were seated the baronet wa^ ^
sent for, and addressed them.
Iho next day the full council met, with Sir William at its hcc
tor the grand con.Mnony. which was performed by Old Abraha*
the Mohawk. First, a largo belt covered the grave; a secor
Ivlt comforted the relatives : a third admonished the survivii
councillors to maintain the covenant with the English ; a foucr 1
disjHMled the elonds of day : a fifth scattered those of night, \vl
session^ of the lirand Cv^unei! were he!d. " These complime-
of OvMidv^lenee wer^^ en'oroed by 1 1 be't5 and 3 strings o{
pum, an*.! a Sv. alp of the enemy to replace the deceased, and
PERMANENCY OP IROQUOIS CLANS AND SACHEMSHIP8. 91
a glass of rum rouodto wash down all sorrow and jjrief, the whole
ceremony of condolence ended." This was the Iroquois condo-
lence for a great sachem in 1756. Was it thus ordered by the
first sachems ? and is it thus performed now ?
In 1768, the younger branches of the confederacy, the Onei-
das, Cayugas and Tuscaroras, went through the whole ceremony
of condolence with the elder branches, the Mohawks, Onondagas,
and Senecas, on the death of a Mohawk sachem. This was
somewhat different from the other, where the brotherhoods were
not clearly distinguished.
When Col. Guy Johnson took his father's place, and the In-
dians gave him a new name, the Onondaga speaker proclaimed
it, after the chief sachem of the Mohawks had announced that
the Six Nations had agreed on his title in private conference.
Col. Johnson stood up, and the name was repeated by a chief of
each nation ; it was directed to be proclaimed in every castle,
and the ceremony concluded with the customary Yo-hah.
This was very different from the quiet ceremony by which
Shikellimy and his son adopted and named the three Moravian
missionaries, by the light of the camp-fire, in the pathless forests
of Pennsylvania. This was in May, 1745. We hardly under-
stand how the adoption could have been as it was, since Shikel-
limy and his son were Cayugas, and by them Spangenberger was
received into the Bear clan of the Oneidas, and Zeisberger into
the Turtle clan of the Onondagas. Certainly the Cayuga chief
must have been of the highest rank to have done this. Later
adoptions have been conducted in various ways ; ways of which
Hiawatha never could have dreamed.
Such changes were to be expected among a people who de-
pended solely on tradition, and whose traditions and customs
were subjected to such violent strains. Giving them all due
honor for much practical wisdom, let us not ascribe it all to the
ounders of the League, but recognize the fact that thcrj may
!>€ advancement among savage as wall as civilized men.
W. M. Beauchamp.
k
02 THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN.
THK DAVENPORT TABLETS GENUINE.
In the January number of the American Antiquarian, appears
an elaborate editorial article, often and a half pages, entitled, "Are
the Davenport Tablets Frauds?" and seeking to create suspicions
which shall detract from the importance and value of these speci-
mens as archiuological discoveries.
The paper opjns with the remark that "the discussion over
these tablets does not now seem likely to cease until the mystery
about them is cleared up."
It is proper to state here that there is not, and never has been
the slightest "mystery" connected with them. Not only so, but
all the circumstances were exceedingly commonplace; the articles
were found exactly as all the other mound relics were found, by
the usual method of exploration of mounds ; there was no ob-
scurity, there was no reservation, secrecy or peculiarity in the
work or in the accounts given, no especial prominence was given
them by us; they were described in the same plain, straight-for-
ward and simple manner as were the copper axes, and bone, shell,
horn, flint and other relics.
The attack begins with lengthy quotations from our published
accounts, and we are told that the clauses indicating the points
the author has in mind are " put in italics," so we look out for
those, and find them rather curiouslv distributed.
It is thus shown — page 46 — that there was a layer of shells a
foot or two below the surface of Mound No. 3, and "a second
laver o( shells" a foot or two below the first. That above the
first or uf^l^^r /.mv/*, wore some bones, and "associated with these
bones" were "a few glass beads and fragments of a brass ring!'
Also, that t\',\w //.* second or lozcer /aver of shells was a stratum
of/Oswe (\\h.(r A\ '.'/." This must somehow be made to look sus-
piviovjs auvl Ik^ comments up'v^n it thus — *'\2) that fragments of a
bra'^s rin^" and o:hor articles " were scattered throufjh the /oosc
sWhi ,\\v, .'" Now, ho had already soon and shown that said frag-
ments of a brass ring wore >^^^"\'r.l."/^;"/ aroze the loose black soil,
auvl l\\v> K;vors v^f sUolls intorvoniuir : and that ihev were with
the v^th;M ivhos v^fan intrusive burial. Ry v.'.iat "scientific" leg-
oi\io:na»n saul tja^^;r..Mt< a:v trar.sLrrod to the bottom of the
nunuul wo aio nv>: tv^ vl ; t!u^ v b;.\::. o. ^v.ovc:', is ^^ufir:cicntIy ap-
|Munt. ln:t Uv^twitlistar.vl n^ 0, ::oo l.>o vf !t.:I:cs ;t will prove a
vlt^nia! tajlvMo
riv^ :v.a:toi v t ** ,: • •. \ . ' o'.' .w nhio'i a< was afterward ob-
MM\v'»i. woio r;oio nuirotv^i:^ »:.■;'.• • v:. :'.:'..• v^f l; rave B," is need-
IonnIx uuMUtoroutovl I .t ;;< o\.;"::::o. ihe upper shell layer
" >.,':V .; vlv»\\ n\\a:vi ;.*;.,:•.; ; ",/ .v .-.,' :-.\.v;/ The second layer was
in a NU^|Mt^i; poMtion jMraV^oI w.th :ao r.rst. and " these indications
THE DAVENPORT TABLETS GENUINE. 93
caused us to continue our excavation in this direction "(i. e.
south-east)" and so we reached the north-west corner of grave
B." The opening was commenced about six feet north-west of
grave B. Hence it is plain that at that time the space over the
middle of grave B was not disturbed, which shows ivliy the stones
there were not observed until afterward. Could not our critic
see this? We might inform him that in this latitude, on high and
open ground it is not very dark half an hour before sunset. In
the ''further exploration" a day or two later, the stones were
observ'cd over the middle of grave B, because that part was dug
out then and not until then.
The next italics met with are thus : "(4) that coal slate lay in
the imoiediate vicinity of the tablets." How this indicates a
*' plant" or why *' intruders" should be more likely to scatter
fragments of coal slate than an honest party burying the bones
and relics we are not informed. Concerning the ease with which
the tablets could have been — surreptitiously — placed there with-
out detection it should be noted that the shells of both layers
were much decayed, and crumbled on being handled, yet there
was not a fragment of shell to be seen among the earth either
above, below, or between the layers, showing absolutely and con-
dusively that these layers, which extend quite over and beyond
the excavations or" graves" where the relics were found, liad not
^uH dist/zrict/, and of course the mound could not have been
penetrated without disturbing them.
And further, the mounds are situated in a public and sightly
place, and Mound No. 3, highest of them all, in full view of
several dwellings within a short distance in different directions,
and but a few rods from a quarry where a number of men
were constantly employed, and the road over which teams
were almost continually hauling stone, passes quite near. Under
these circumstances it is easily seen that it would be simply im-
possible for persons to perform a long and tedious work in the
mound, unobserved. When we take into consideration the
amount of excavation and careful exploration requisite to discov-
er the internal structure of the mound, and to Icar/i wJicrc to place
the articles, the absurdity is so palpable that it is simply amazing
that any intelligent or prudent writer could be found who would
venture to commit himself to such a suggestion or to the advo-
cacy of it.
In quoting from IDr. Farquharson that the ir.atcrial of the tablets
"crops out in various places in this vicinity" our candid and care-
ful critic does not see fit to include his further remark '* the
substance of which they are composed is equally abundant in
very many other places, indeed wherever coal is found."
He also italici.ses Dr. Farquharson's remark that the tablets
apparently " ///7rf not zveathered viuchy and doubtless thinks it
strange that they should not have weathered rapidly while buried
H THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN.
six fjet deep, i. e., in the most perfectly protected situation pos-
sible.
At the top of page 52 the author makes one of his strong points
thus : " The moon has a face in it*' ..." the reverse of what
is common among the ancient races, for everywhere mpre'/Ustoric
American Art the sun has the face in it, and not the moon."
Dr. Cyrus Thomas, in " Science," page 564, says : "examining
the excellent albertype of the limestone tablet given on Plate VII.
Vol. II of the Proceedings, we arc somewhat surprised to see the
sun represented with a face."
Who shall decide when doctors disagree ?
Here also we are brought face to face with the painful fact that
certain lines look — to Dr. Peet — "as if they had been cut by a
knife." (This is scientific and italicised, and of course important)
Another serious charge, on page 53, must not be overlooked,
viz: " In these lines and in the belts or arcs below them, the fig-
ures or characters are repeated." The scroll is repeated several
times but in different arcs, and so of some of the other characters."
"This would indicate that the party fabricating the inscriptions
ran out of characters'* (!) " and was obliged to repeat the same
characters several times as he made the different lines.**
This is bad. and unfortunately the same is true of the famed
" Rosotta stone." and also — Alas ! of the learned Dr*s own article
of ton and a half pages, indicating that "the party fabricating "
each ** ran out of characters " (jiot character) " and was obliged
to repeat ** several of the letters and even whole words ! What
would the author of that criticism have had to say li no character
nad been rcpoatod ? Would that, to his unbiased mind, have
indicated a genuine written language?
l'\irther, in following out this interesting line of argument
against us. how chai^rined must we and our friends be to find —
as tv^Kl on ivi^^c 5- — that the characters ** present great variety of
forms/' anil shockini^ to behold — that among them have actually
Invn discovorod ** angles." I " partial circles," 1 1 " scrolls," ! ! !
** snuaros.'*! II! In such a case we are naturally quite at a loss
what t\> do about it. l^f course' thev ouiiht to have been all ex-
actly alike. Us^ " variety of forms." and not one to be " repeated ;**
ho\vo\oi\ \\ istvV^lat.^ n.nw Wv.* must cvon let it go so.
It o\ idonllv n\akvS no s.^rt of diff.Tonce anv wav, what is or
what is no; vva tho taMots. all oiroumstancesare alike suggestive of
tho ono ivLw witich pvV<sosso< our critics ; the wish is father to
tho tlu^vj^ht It tlu\ wvHiKI lay asivio their iraud-glasses and use
thv^'.i i^atuial taonltiv^^ wMio n.^t to/' maoh impaired, might they
!\ot ^vv loN>i *' vLukty "
In uMatuM) tv^ tho aUoi^Ov? J,:<civ:\i;Kv between the first des-
\'ni^tivM\ auvl iIl*a>tiatKM> v^t' Mvhu^*, No, ;, and the later and more
Cv*mo!vto tvnvMt. \x Wv^uld al'.no>t svxnii that persons seeking the
mi
THE DAVENPORT TABLETS OENnNE. 85
ith need not have been greatly perplexed, but perhaps an ex-
nation may assist the duller sort to comprehend it.
Mr. Gass. not being very familiar with the English language,
rnishcd notes of the circumstances of the discoveries and the
iTucture of the mounds, and Dr. Farquharson prepared the re-
)rt which was unfortunately published without being first
ibmitted to Mr. Gass for careful examination, as it should
ive been. It is. however, obvious from the report ilselfas
luhlished, that Dr. Farquharson drew a wrong inference
;«gartling the layers of stones and shells. Mr. Gass explicitly
Mated, as quoted, that in Mound No. 3, " the outer and
inner arrangements were quite similar to the first " (Mound No.
!.) Till.* statement of ca\iTS,& includes stone ami shell laygrs, and
evidently he did not suppose it necessary to repeat the descrip-
tion of tliose layers. From this. Dr. Farquharson erroneously
inferred that there were none, and tlie drawings having beea
made under his direction, these were omitted in the illustration
of that mound. Of course neither of those gentlemen were
aware or had the remotest thought of the Jealousies which
lould be aroused, and the bitter and unscientific spirit which
iwould prevail among the "authorities " a few years later,
The remark on page 55, where our assailant " would refer to
"nc very singular circumstance," viz: "that the word TOWN is
found in one of the belts or arcs " shows to what straits he is re-
duced when, being once embarked in tlie undertaking he must
do something, however feeble.
His remark carries our memory back a few years, and we refer
the Antiquarian, Vol. i. No. 2, page 107, and read: "The
igest thing about the tablet is that the word TOWN stands
H bald lim-s among the cabalistic letters."
ILikc Iiim we will italiciz-.; some significant expressions.)
Then we turn to his letter of October 20th, 1878, and read,
The albertype contains the same characters, though none of us
lid have thought of it except as your own report suggested it " !
then also says that he actually borrowed the allusion from
Farquharson, and further .says, " It comes back to you differ-
'l[y from what it went out." Dr. Farquharson alluded to it
lying it " may be pure fancy," Dr. Peet said " stands out in bold
iocs." His own comment on that point is perhaps sufficient.
le simple truth is so obvious it scarcely need be mentioned;
"^ one who has ever examined the tablet or a fac simile, pho-
[fSph or albertype, knows that the faint resemblance is nothing
™ than one of the merest coincidences ; .such a resemblance
when once " suggested," may be traced by the exercise of the
>ginaIion, in the clouds or the coals burning in the grate.
ould an impostcrbe likely to introduce English words? How
Tlcioualy feeble must be the cause, which is sought to be sus-
led by such allusions.
96 THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN.
We bear in mind the fact that one of the most prominent fea-
tures of the. whole case is the total absence of all conceivable mo-
tive for deception. Our uncomfortable and much alarmed friends
have not even hinted at any. such thing. In their anxiety to es-
tablish their favorite theory of a ** plant," they have not the
slightest idea who might have attempted it, or what object any
one could possibly have had in doing so. We are repeatedly
assured that it is not believed or suspected that our members
themselves have attempted, or would do or countenance, any
such act.
Upon the appearance of these aggressive, systematic and per-
sistent attacks upon the Davenport discoveries, the thought
which naturally arises in the minds of readers everywhere, is the
very pertinent question — which must some day be answered —
Whence this desperate and blind eagerness to impeach the gen-
uineness of these particular specimens ? What are the consider-
ations which prompt such reckless and ill-considered efforts,
upon the most frivolous pretexts, and by perversion of facts, fee-
ble puerilities and obviously false inferences, to arouse suspicion
and to manufacture public opinion ?
Shall ivc, too, '* read between the lines " to interpret the true
significance of all this ?
It is, indeed, comforting, gratifying in fact, not only to find that
with all these gigantic and almost superhuman efforts put forth
by the expounders of science and dictators of theory, the integrity
of all the five relics attacked remains absolutely untouched, and
not one vulnerable point has been found ; but also to be kindly
and patronizingly informed that this whole crusade ** does not
detract from the value of the other relics which are in the cabi-
net of the museum."
Rev. Mr. (lass must be happy to learn also that the author of
the article, having been the only person who has ever published a
charge of "fraud" against him (see Antiquarian, November.
1885,) "considers the members ^z// to be honorable gentlemen,
incapable of deception," and furthermore that he ** has always
been and is now ready to defend him from all aspersions as to
character and reputation ! "
W. H. Pratt.
Davenport, Feb. 4th. 1886.
^ .J
FRAUDULENT OBJECTS OF STONE. 97
Correspondence.
FRAUDULENT OBJECTS OF STONE.
Editor American Antiquariafi:
When I wrote you that I had in my possession objects of stone
obtained through exchange from the Rev. Mr. Gass which
were fraudulent, I intended in the near future to prepare an arti-
cle of greater length and with more definite explanations. This
notice which you gave in the editorial [Vol.VIT. No. 6,] compels
me to forward to your address the facts at once as I presume many
readers of the Antiquarian are awaiting their appearance.
All studious archajologists know the story of the finding of the
"Elephant pipes," so-called, and of the stone tablets, and it is not
necessary that it should be again repeated here. They are also
aware of the charges brought against the Rev. Mr. Gass and
the Davenport Academy of Natural Sciences, by Mr. H. W.
Henshaw, of the Bureau of Ethnology, Washington, D. C, [see
Annual report of the Bureau of Ethnology 1880-81 on pages
15510 158,] and the immediate appearance of the interesting pam-
phlet entitled "Elephant Pipes," in the museum of the Davenport
Academy of Natural Sciences, bv its President, Charles E. Put-
nam, Esq., supposed to be a vindication of the reverend gentleman
and the Academy. I have both the accusation and the defense
before me.
The truth, which I wish to place before the public are not relat-
^ to these charges but others which have arisen later. The facts
we as follows: Last Summer I was visited by Mr. H. C. Stev-
ens, of Oregon City, Oregon, a gentleman who takes much inter-
est in relics of stone and who possesses a fine collection of prehis-
toric objects. At about the same time Mr. Putnam's paper came
into my hands and I took occasion to show Mr. Stevens the article,
mentioning some of the portions in which Mr. Gass was concerned.
He replied at once in a positive manner in reference to the last
named, and when called upon to explain returned, answer, saying
that he had received from Mr. (jass, a num])er of stone articles
W'hich were certainly fraudulent. He promised to send the objects
to me upon his return home, and did so, and they are now in my
possession. With them came a letter from which I quote the fol-
lowing: " I sent you two pipes, two pieces called Indian money,
one so-called 'sacrificial plate,' and one onumient. All have the
original labels except the pipes and the 'money.' The pipes were
W THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN.
labeled ^Grey sandstone pipes from Missouri,' the 4noncy,' ^Indian
money from Illinois/ The pipes were thrown out doors and lost
their labels, and have taken on quite an ancient look from exposure
to the weather. There was another piece I wanted to send but
could not get it into the box, I mean the piece of white marble
fainted to represent sandstone ,'*
This I received later and added it to the other articles.
I have also in my possession two letters to Mr. Stevens from
Mr. Gass bearing on this exchange, and I reproduce them here
Terbatim before describing the objects; having however, corrected
the spelling but not changing the sentences.
Office of J. Duncan Putnam,
Corresponding Secretary, Davenport
Academy of Natural Sciences.
Davenport, Iowa, April 9, 1881.
II. C. Stevens, Dear Sir:
We received your letter to J. D. Putnam, and your box of arrow
heads also. We have a large collection of Indian stone and flint
implements in our museum, obtained from most all the states along
the Mississippi, and exchange them for others. We also have the
best collection of mound relics in existence. Mr. Pratt, our curator,
is willing to exchange with you a greater number of Indian imple-
ments, and he will send them all together as soon as you mention
what you wish.
I do not collect Indian relics, but my specialty is exploring
mounds and collecting mound relics. I had a goo<l collection, but
it is now in possession of our museum. I have in possession but a
few at present, and send them for exchange; for I would like to
have Oregon relics. I wish you would send me a number of the
best small arrow-heads, perfect in shape and color. I want to use
.thcni for charms for my children, also some large spear-heads;
and if possible an Indian pipe. The rest you may send
what you think would suit me best. If you wish a greater collec-
tion of mound relics, I think I could furnish some for you this
summer. I would be glad to have the things as soon as possible
for 1 will leave Davenport as soon as the frost is out of the ground
for the purpose of exploring mounds.
Yours trulv,
J. Gass.
Da VKN POUT, June 11, 18S1.
H . C. S T j: v k n s , Dear Sir :
I received vour letter, and a box with a few arrow-heads. I
sent you two boxes mound relics. One contained a celt, and thirty-
seven flint knives and spear-heads. They were just as good as any
found in mounds, and are valued more here than Indian relics; but
I see in your letter they are not important to you; and under this
circumstance I will be content if you exchange for just such as I
sent vou.
The other box contained very valuable selected relics. The
FRAUDULENT OBJECTS OF STONE. 09
fifes are very rare^ and only found in the Mississippi valley. I
spent over fifty dollars this spring, exploring mounds, and only
found one broken pipe.
Our Academy pays for such pipes from ten to fifteen dollars. I
only sent you them because I would like very much to have some
Oregon relics. If you do not value them, or care to exchange for
them, please return by mail, and I will send you the cost of freight,
ami arrow-heads in return.
Respect.,
J. Gass.
It is curious that the envelope in my possession is addressed in
quite different writing from that in which the letters were written.
I infer from the style that Mr. Gass is a German, and not being
posted in the English language had another person to write the
letters for him, as he dictated them.
I take the liberty to describe the articles, though they need only
to be seen to be known as fraudulent.
The first is a pipe-shaped object; perhaps made to represent an
unfinished pipe, and is ?nade from white marble^ originally cover-
ed with lead-colored paint. This has worn off, and shows the
nature of the stone. The fraud was exposed still more by the ap-
plication of spirits of turpentine. The part intended for the bowl
is two and one- half inches long, one and one-half inches wide at
top and lessens gradually in width as it reaches the stem which is
three quarters of an inch long, one inch broad at bowl, and three-
quarters of an inch at end of stem. The top of the pipe is convex,
edges rounded, and has on each of its sides and surrounding the
partly worked out bowl a shallow, circular depression about one
quarter of an inch in diameter. What is to be the bowl is of the
same size, but a little deeper. On each side of its broadest sides and
on a horizontal line with the stem can be seen a similar cavity of
the same size. The stern also has an unfinished perforation much
larger than the bowl, and is broken away to almost its full length
on one side. I am not aware that pipes flattened in this manner
were ever taken from mounds. Stone cutters saw their marble
slabs one inch and one and one-quarter inches in thickness. This
object measures just one inch, and was probably made of such slab.
The next pipe is of a close grained stone which completed is to
represent the head and neck of a bird. The neck, which is rather
lon;j,has extending around it three shallow grooves. The hole
for insertion of the stem is placed in the middle furrow which runs
around the central part of the neck. On its lower sides is cut in
the center a small circular depression which is crossed by two
grooves at a right angle. The marks made by a file can be plain-
ly seen on this object.
The third pipe, also of a fine grained stone, is to represent a
primitive form of mound pipe, in that the stem is also the mouth-
piece which is flattened and curved. The bowl is round, expands
at its top and rises at one end of the stem. In true mound pipes
the bowl is found to rise from the center. File marks are also
100 THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN
perceptible here. These objects were originally labeled as bein*^
found in Missouri.
In the lot are two flat, oblong pieces of red shale, each about
one inch lonjj, three-quarters of an inch in breadth, and one-(juar-
ter of an inch thick, marked as "aboriginal money from Illinois."
On the side of one, near its center is a circular cavity one-fourth
of an inch in diameter. Its partner has two of these hollows some-
what larger. On the sides opposite are a number of deeply incised
lines crossing each other.
Another flat, broken specimen of shale has an irregular, rounded
top, sides notched, and a projecting base about half an inch high.
The stone appears to have been exposed to great heat, which has
caused the other side of the base to melt away. Near the center
is placed also a circular cavity. The manufacturer of these objects
seems to have been partial to cup depressions. Had Dr. Rau's
" Observations on Cup-shaped and other Lapidarian Sculpture in
the Old World and in America " incorporated in " Contributions
to North American Ethnology, Vol. V, pages i to 112 inclusive,
Wiishington, 1SS2," appeared earlier, one would be inclined to
think that the maker had taken his cue from that interestingf work.
The last in this collection is a flat, oblong object called a "Sacrificial
Plate," having a spoon-shaped groove almost covering one side.
Thero is along one end on the other side a well defined, curved
projection forming at an angle with the depression which I sup-
pose was meant for a handle. This may be a true relic; but why
it should be called a "sacrificial plate" is to me a mystery. It is
labeled as cominjj from Missouri. The "ornament" and "sacrifi-
cial plate" still have on them the original paper pasters, one writ-
ten by the person who wrote the letters sent by Mr. Gass, the
other the German style of penmanship which is to be seen on the
envelope.
But few, if any, comments have been made by the writer. The
examination may hereafter be made by able archteologists, and by
them reported upon the objects which are claimed to be frauds.
The facts have been given because there should be no concealment
in scientific research. If Mr. Gass has been imposed upon why
does he not come forward and acknowled<re it? It would look
better for him to do this than to remain so silent. The letters
show that deception has been practiced. If so in this case why
not, also, in others now in dispute.
A. F. Berlin.
Allentown, Pa., Jan. 15, 18S6.
A
LETTERS FROM MR. GASB AND MR. STEVENl^, 101
LETTERS ON THE SAME FROM MR. GASS ANJ>
MR. STEVENS.
Mtor American Antiquarian:
As the latest phase in the transaction of the fraudulent relics
from Ore«^on, I enclose the following; letters.
Voms truly,
A. F. Bkklin.
Allentown, Fa., Feh. 22^ 18S6.
" FosTViLLK, I A., Jan. ,^0, 1886.
Mr. Stevens, Oregon City. Dear Sir :
I learned hv letters of Mr. Berlin, at Allentown, Fa., sent to the
Academy of Natural Science at Davenport that the Indian pipe I
exchanged with you some years aji^o is not authentical and very
doubtful just as you wrote to me when you received it. I am very
>iorrv I did not helieve vou and that I was so hadlv mistaken. I
;(ot the w^hole lot sent to you from the same party and now I am
afraid there could be some more doubtful articles amon^i^ them and
of course I never would jjive to anv bodv a doubtful relic bv niv
will and knowledjje. In this case I think it would be mv honor and
duty to correct my mistake and send you your specimens back
again bv mail to day and you also will be so kindly and send mine
back to me. Enclosed I send you hereby postal note 50 cents, by
postage, to send my lot back by mail. Should the postaji^e be hijjher
I will send vou the balance.
Re*;p. Yours,
I. (lASS."
** Oregon Citv, Orkcjon, Fein. 9, \S6.
Rev. J. Gass. Dear Sir :
Your letter dated Jim'y 30th, and enclosinji^ postal note for 50
cents to hand. The box you mention as havinjj^ shipped is not yet
lo hancl. When it does come both it and the order shall be hel<l
*»ubject to vour instructions, as the articles I received from you are
not now in mv possession. They now belons^ to Mr. Berlin of
Allentown, Fa. I am sorry to say that not only the jjipe, but the
pipes, and each and everv other article received from von, were
the basest kind of frauds. Now, it seems to me thnt a man of
your reputation would hardly be so easily imposed upon by such
Worthless trash. If you have really been imposed upon, I am
•"'rry, hut it is now, I think, too late for me to do anythin<r.
Yours truly,
II. C\ Sti:\'kns.**
• • •
. • •
v*.
102 . •/ THE AMERK^AN ANTIQUARIAN.
.•.;..•■ ANIMAL CAKVINCiS.
• - • •.
",^^4> //ic liditor Amcriraft AHtiquariaft :
In a recent article of the January Antiquarian, entitled "Ani-
V nial Fi<i:ures in American Art," vou take occasion to freely criticise
/v.** opinions advanced hv me in a paper entitled " Animal Car\ inj2^>
from Mounds of the Mississippi Valley,'' in the Second annual Re-
port of the Bureau of Kthnoloj^y. Far from deprecatinjr the kind
of criticism contained in your article, which aims to discuss mooted
scientific points and refrains from personal abuse, I am extremely
jjlad that the article in (juestion has called forth comment, as only
by the free interchanj^^e of opinions ca«i the points raised by it be
settled. In view of the fact, however, that I find myself compelled
to differ essentially from certain opinions advanced In* you, and as
I consider that in some cases, you ha\e not presented my views and
statements as clearlv as I deem desirable, 1 beji^ leave to review the
subject briefly in your maj^a/ine.
I cannot better preface my remarks than by a few words on the
character of the work done by Squier and Davis, more particularly
as my article, <levoted as it necessarily was, in lar*i^e part to a criti-
cism of the views advanced by these authors, seems to have been mis-
construed into an expression of peculiar animosity to them. That
such misinterpretation is entirely unnecessary will appear from ;i
quotation taken from the be«jinnin<if <>f my paper, which states my
real opinion of the work of these authors in no ambiguous terms.
** In 1 1^48 S(|uier and Davis published their j:^reat work on the
Mounds of the Nlississippi \' alley. The skill and zeal with which
these j^entlemen prosecuted their researches in the field, and the
ability and fidelitv which mark the i>resontati()n of their results to
the public, are sufliciently attested by the fact that this volume has
proved alike the mine from which subsecpient writers have drawn
their most important facts, and the chief inspiration for the vast
amount of work in the same direction since undertaken."'
The more carefully the work of tiiesc- gentlemen is scrutinized
in the fuller li*i;ht of the present dav, the ;^reater will Ik' the admi-
ration for their attainments anl especially for the scrupulous ex-
actness with which they endeav<)red to present their results. Mav-
inj^ had occasion to examine their publicMtions with some care, t!ie
writer is prepared to yield to no one in his admiration of their
skill as e\])Iorers, and their ability in hinidlin'Lr the facts when
j^athered. Pioneers as they were in their chosen field, it is ton
much to exjK'ct that the full and final bearing of all the data their
industry ;^arnered, should appear in their conclusions. Mistakes,
more or less important, they could not well escape, and the hij^h
character of their work as a whole oidy renders it more important
that these errors should be discovered and set forth. When all the
errors they made are corrected, enouj^h of j^ood, honest, thor-
ouirhlv done seientific work will be left to serve as a monument of
ANIMAL CARVINGS. 1():J
their fame, sulKcieiitly cMKliirin*^ and imposintr to satisfy their most
ardent admirers.
Three erroneous conclusions were put forth by Squier and Da-
vis the adoption of which seems frau^^ht with important conse-
quences. First: The statement clearly made in more than one
place, that the carvinjj^s and other works of art left by the Mound-
Builders evinced a hi*i^h state of art, and that as works of art the
carvinjjs are " immeasurably beyond anythinj; which the North
American Indians are known to produce." Second: That the H-
(Iclitv to nature in many of these caryinjjfs is so remarkable as to
make them '" rank beside the best efforts of the artist naturalists of
our own day." Third: That as a conse(|uence of the ji^reat ima-
tative ability of the mound sculptors, the extraordinary likeness of
>onie of the carvings enables them to be identified as the delinea-
tions of birds and animals from remote southern districts, thus jus-
tifying the statement that the Mound- Builders either had inter-
course with foreign parts, or else orij^inally mij^fated thence, or,
that the same race existed contemporaneously oyer a yast extent of
country.
A careful examination of the Hjj^ures in the caryinjj^s in (|uesti<jn,
p«ii)lished l)y them and others, as well as of casts of many of them,
—most of the orij^^mals being, as is well known, in a foreign mu-
*»vum, and not accessible, - led me to opinions almost diametrically
opposed to those cited, and, I may add, that after careful consider-
ati(m of your recent article I fail to see reason to abandon the posi-
tion taken.
With reference to the proper relatiye pr)sition^ of the naturalist
and archaeologist in the study of animal carvings, 1 believe that
archii'ologists generally will agree with the position taken in nw
previous paper, and in part, at least, subscribed to by yourself, viz:
that it is for the naturalist rather than the archivologist to <leter-
mine the desrree of actual likeness borne by tiie carvings to the
hirds and animals of the present day. When discrepancies are no-
ted by the naturalist or actual resemblances ilenied, it is for the
archieologist, familiar with aboriginal art methods, to account for
the discrepancies, and to show the extent and manner in which
natural features have been exaggerated, toned down or totally left
*>ut at the bidding of mythologic fancy or conventionalism. Per-
haps the ideal student of such objects would be the archa'ologist
endowed, in addition to a knowledge of his own specialty, with a
naturalist's familiarity with animals; but in the lack of such a stu-
dent, archieologists should perhaps be willing as you intimate, to
accept the assistance of naturalists who, as you say, have the ad-
vantage of acquaintance with animal life. If the above assump-
tion he correct, it would seem to be the natural order of procedure,
that the opinion of the n.ituralist as to the exact likeness of a given
carving should precede the final statement of the archa'ol(»gist ; in
other words, facts precede theories. Had such a course been
adopted in regard to the animal carvings in (juestion, there is a fair
104 THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN.
degree of probability that certain current theories would never
have been promulgated.
Believing then, that the work of the naturalist might be of use
to the archajologist, even at this late day, and admitting frankly, as
I did, that the naturalist's conclusions were to be reviewed by the
archaiologist, and modified when inconsistent with well grounde<l
archaiological facts, it was the main purpose of my paper to prove,
from the standpoint of the naturalist, that the position originally
taken by Squier and Davis in reference to the carvings, was in the
main incorrect. In order that the exact ideas of these authors mav
be clearly understood, a few paragraphs may be quoted. Among
other things they claim that the carvings " faithfully represent ani-
mals and birds peculiar to other latitude's," ♦ ♦ * u ^\s works
of art thev are immeasurablv bevond anvthing which the North
American Indians are known to produce.'*' ♦ ♦ ♦ ^^ So far a»»
fidelitv is concerned, manv of them deserved a rank beside the best
efforts of the artist-naturalists of our own day." * * ♦ The
acceptance of these views by many archaH)l()gists might easily be
shown by citations, but it will suffice to quote the views of the
latest, and certainly not the least experienced, of archaiological
writers, viz: your own. The above statements iimong others, you
quote approvingly and add, " we consider them judicious, well-
guarded, and discriminating, and doubt whether any archaeologist
of the present day would make them any more so.'**
Here then would seem to be tlie main point at issue between the
naturalist and the archieoloj^ist. The naturalist denies that the
carvings are exact imitations of nature in the ordinary, or in the
true sense of the word, :ind affirms that thev are imitations onlv in
a way so general that a very large percentage are not recognizable
at all, except as animals and birds, while a great majority of those
which are recognizable in a general way, are so from the presence
of salient features, the portrayal of which does not require, and is
therefore not evidence of, high artistic ability. The following
illustration is to the point. 1 lowever imperfect a carving of a
snake mav be, if only the rattle be rudelv represented, it ispermis-
sable to identify it as a rattlesnake. But the succc>^sful identifica-
tion of a rude carving from the presence of a salient feature like
this would bv no means iustifv a i^lowin<r euloofv as to the wonder-
ful imitative ability and high artistic skill of the sculptor. Artis-
tic ability of a high order should be etpial to the task of represent-
ing a rattlesnake so unmistakably, that even with the rattle broken
off, the carving would be identifiable.
Referring to the respective positions of the archa'ologist and
naturalist in studies like the present, attention may be called to the
fact that in attem]>ting to refute the position taken in my paper,
you do not in a single instance adduce what may be called archaM)-
logical evidence, but, on the contrary, treat the matter purely from
the naturalistic side. In no case <lo-you explain the results reached
by the mound artists, be they good or bad, by an expositi(»n of
their art methods, nor do you even furnish us with the ^' standard
ANIMAL CARVINGS. 105
or criterion " accepted by archaBolo^^ists as their guide in the study
of such objects. Having denied the validity of the conclusions reached
by the naturalist, it would seem to be incumbent on vou as an archae-
oloj(ist in refuting them, to cite evidence from the archa>ologic
aspect of the case. Is your failure to do so to be interpreted as a
confession that archaeology has no criteria of its own by which to
judfje these particular carvings?
To conclude, as you do, that " it may be true, as Mr. Ilenshaw
says, that the particular species or variety of animal is not always
recognizable, but we think that the generic class is generally pretty
well represented," is in startling contrast to the conclusions as to
close resemblances reached by other archaeologists. Imitative
ability of the general character you here claim will be at once con-
ceded by all, and in case of an animal like the bear, otter, beaver,
and some others of which but one species inhabited the Mound-
Builder's region, identification becomes easy enough, less, however,
from the skill of the artist than the simplicity of the case. Vastly
more skill and imitative ability than is implied in your statement
must be conceded to the mound artist if, on the strength of the re-
semblance of a certain carving, a knowledge is claimed on the part
of the Mound-Builders, of animals and birds inhabiting far distant
regions. The a priori improbability that the Mound-Builders
were acquainted with these animals is great, and cunning indeed
must be the skill of the sculptor, and admirable the carved likeness
upon the strength of which such important conclusions are drawn.
Having warned the naturalist not to expect the native artist
"to exhibit the accuracy oi nature in the representations of animal
life," and having gone so far as to affirm that such expectations
will not be realized even in modern art, the question you subse-
quently put would seem to be an idle one. You ask, " will the
naturalist who undertakes to criticise the specimens which have
come down to us from the native artists, give us some criterion by
which we can judge them (i. e., the animal carvings,) as imita-
tions?" On the assumption that such criteria mentioned by you
as, " measurements of parts, proportions of wings, limbs, and other
parts of the body," would be of service in such comparisons, we
must suppose that the mound artist brounght to his work, not only
ver>' high ideas of the requirements of art, but that he had recourse
to the dividers, or to the tape and measure, — an idea you will pro-
^bly agree, it is not permissable to entertain. The only criteria
possessed by naturalists, which are of use in such comparisons, are
derived from a study of nature, and consist in a thorough knowl-
edge of the animal life with which the Mound-Builders probably
were, or might possibly have been, acquainted. Such data as you
allude to as, ** measurements of parts," etc., are to be found, when
wanted, in many standard works of natural history. They cannot
be laid down in a series of formulae, and applied like mathemati-
cal rules.
Referring to your remarks on the individual sculptures, let us
turn to the Manatee.
106 THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN.
Manatee. — In considering the carvings which have been pro-
nounced so confidently to be manatees, but which I consider otters,
you fail to give the necessary prominence to the most important
part of my argument, viz : the presence in the sculptures of both
ears and feet. Aside from the fact that those sculptures least like
the otter, are not like the manatee, I contend that the pos-
session of ears and feet, the former being wholly concealed
in the manatee, the latter being mere paddle-like Hippcrs, is suffi-
cient proof that the sculptures can not have been intended to rep-
resent the manatee.
To assume the Mound sculptors capable of such egregious blun-
ders of omission — seven times repeated — in the representations
of animals they were really acquainted with, would be to practi-
cally disbar thoir handiwork from comparisons likj the present, on
the score of cxtraordinarv ijjnoranceoraverv low order of imitative
ability — :ui extreme position which I, at least, do not care to as-
sume. Two of the sculptures have fishes in the mouth; sufficient
pro.)f that the carvings were intended to represent carnivorous an-
imals. It should be carefullv notetl, however, that onlv one of
the two carvings which you are willing to concede are otters, is a
good representation of that animal. The other much more nearly
resembles the suppose<l manatees than it does the otter, an<l it can
not be doubted that jt would have been classed with the other
manatees on the strength of its resemblance to them had it not
been for the fish in its mouth. This secured its interpretation as
an otter. Why then not class the others as otters, assuming, as is
reasonable enough, that the sculptor, as in so many other cases,
had not the time, or skill, or tho desire, to portr.iy its food. I
fail to understand the force of vour confident assertion that the
*' Mound- Builders evivlcntly drew the distinction Inrtween the two,
( i. e., otter an J manatee,* /ir//i'crsj^/v ri'fr^'Si\*ifi/ij^ the on 2 as
/it'ri*iv-r,'i:s iifiJ t/i.' other as carniv^r.u/sr \ Italics my own.)
Rarely, iiuloevU are tho habits of the Ncalpturod animak indicateil
by the portrayal of their prey. In tlie larixe in:ij«^rity of birds and
ani:iia*i>, oven of such prodacooii< >:kv;o^ a< the wild cats and
hawUs, >uv:'.^. invlioativ>n< aro wliollv waiirinor. Su that while in the
ca<e v»f the animals portrayovl with their iov».i, po<itivc vleihictions
a> to I;.ibits aro porm:<<ible, it^ ab^jiivO proves n-'ilunj^. The cuJ
of " sja i:ra<s v»r marine herba^xo" wliiv'i wo:iM bo proof of the
hcrMvoroii< liaMis of the supposed man^i'tv, :^ 1 -.ikevl for in vain.
Your line oi rca<oni:i_; appears tv^ be t'.i.i:, hevMiise :l~.e animals are
no: represealevl as e.;rnivorN»;:<, therefoie the\ :::i:>t bo herbivorous,
and tiieir herM\orv>U'» haS::< provo.l in il::-' e\:: a ordinary manner
are eitOvi :o >:reni;:hon i/.o a-^^utr.piioii :'.:;i: :*..ev are manatees 1 1
Nor oa:i I .;coord i: roarer weight tv> your argument Inweti on the
fee:. Vv*u '•av, " Thov ro'oro^^cntod the nia::atoe as bavin cr onlv
."■^. .. ^.
iwv^ fee:, and t::e o;ter, e::her a^ r'a\ inc :wo feet, or else ^^-
lire,: t'".e aaiir.a'. \v::h :\\v^ fee: xi^ible, av.vl :he other invisible.*'
The f«:*-,»w::vj: --oeir.^ iv^ Iv a iv.ue;: ir.ore natural explanation.
As the pipe- must have o». nvenien: handle-s. the boily of the
ANIMAL CARVINGS. 107
sculptured animal was either sloped off to fit the hand, or the han-
dle made by cutting the body squarely off, leaving a flat surface
for the hand to grasp — hence the bodies of the supposed manatees
cannot be supposed to be finished, and the absence of feet need oc-
casion no surprise, and calls for no remark.
Toucan. — As you frankly admit archajologists have been mis-
taken in the identification of two out of the three carvings of the
supposed toucan, a little caution would seem to be permissible as
to the third sp>ecimen. With reference to it I can only restate my
former opinion. The toucan is a bird the Mound-Builders were
most unlikely to know anything about, owing to its remote habi-
tat. The evidence that they did, ought, therefore, to be beyond
dispute, the likeness should be unmistakable. It is far from it.
The bill, legs, neck, and feet of this carving are all so far removed
from likeness to the toucan as to absolutely prohibit the naturalist
from accepting its identification as such. The carving is not exe-
cuted with the detail necessary for its perfect recognition, but the
general make up of the bird renders it fairly safe to pronounce it a
heron or ibis. Its disproportionately thick neck and massive bill
may be accounted for, perhaps, on the theory that had these parts
been more delicately shaped the carving would have been too frail
to Rcrve its purpose as a pipe. The neck seems designed to serve
as a handle, and hence strength was an essential. As stated in my
previous article, however, its identification as a Toucan was doubt-
less due less to a resemblance to that bird than to the fanciful idea
that it is supposed to be represented as feeding from a human hand.
Hawk. — In respect to this carving you state, " it will be noticed
that it has a head wholly unlike that of the hawk; the bill also is
much shorter." Both of these statements I am compelled to deny
explicitly. The raptorial features of the birds of prey are too
marked to be overlooked, and too ciisy of portrayal to be neglected
by the mound sculptor. The " notched bill," the " cere," and, I
may add, the general appearance of this particular head prove it to
be a hawk beyond all question, while the same characters are
equally conclusive proof that it is not a grouse. In deference to
your positive statements above quoted, I have shown the head to a
number of prominent ornithologists who all agree as to its likeness
to a hawk. Its resemblances are too general to enable the species
to be safely pronounced upon. Here, at least, you should be wil-
ling to accept the conclusion of ornithologists since all your state-
ments are based on ornithological grounds.
Bat. — Of this you remark, "the carved figun* concerning which
the naturalist has made the greatest mistake is one which Squicr
and Davis call the owl, but vvhich he calls the bat." Unintention-
ally, doubtless, you have misrepresented me. I did not state tliis
to be a carving of a bat; on the contrary, believing this sculpture to
resemble neither owl nor bat with sufficient closeness to justify a
positive identification, I was careful not to make one. I state, as
you subsequently correctly iquotc me, " this carving differs mark-
edly from any of the avian sculptures, and iDrobably was not in-
108 THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN.
tended to represent a bird at all ; it more nearly resembles, if it can
be said to resemble anything, a bat, with the features very much
distorted." The chief reason for doubting the avian character of
this carving, is the peculiar way in which the wings are represented,
in relief and not by means of lines, and feather etchings which ap-
pear on almost the full length avian sculptures. It seemed to
me also, though the cut does not suffice for a positive determina-
tion, that the legs are represented as being attached to the wing,
and that in this particular the carving was rudely suggestive of a
bat. The eyes, however, are much too large for a bat, and in
short, the carving seemed, and still seems to me, to be a nonde-
script.
Much more might be written upon the many carvings which
fail to reproduce animal characteristics with sufficient accuracy to
permit their identification. Enough, however, has been said, to
disprove the Mound-Builders vaunted " fidelity to nature," and I
will conclude with a quotation from my previous article.
" Of forty-five of the animal carvings, including a few of clay,
which are figured in Squier and Davis' work, eleven arc left un-
named by the authors as not being recognizable; nineteen are iden-
tified correctly, in a general way, as of a wolf, bear, heron, toad,
etc.; sixteen are demonstrably wrongly identified, leaving but five
of which the species is correctly given."
As the above statement has not been disproved, it must be ad-
mitted to amply justify the claim of numerous errors made in the
identification of the carvings.
Respectfully Yours,
W. H. Hensiiaw.
Washington, D. C, Feb. 5, 1SS6.
MOUNDS IX MANITOBA.
Editor Am. A/tfi^//ariafi.
Sir:— Itmav not be known to most of vour readers that the
mound system of the Upper Mississppi River merges into another
that may be denominated for convenience the Manitoba system.
A connected line of mounds extends down the Red River of
the North ti> Lake Winnipeg, and the western feeders of the river
run through a fertile country in which many groups of mounds are
found. Little field exploration has yet been done, but the result
of the search so far made is most $rratifvin<»-.
In character the mounds closely resemble the burial and hearth
mounds of the Ohii>. I have opened several and secured sea
shell gorgets, stone tubes, shell beads, pottery, etc.
In the immediate vicinity of a group of mounds on the Red
River, iS miles north of the city of Winnipeg, I discovered an old
camp site, with quantities of **kitchen midden'' containing frag-
ments of pottery, shell and stone KnuIs, partially worked and fin-
THE DI CESNOLA ANTIQUITIES. 109
ishcd flint arrow heads, scrapers, etc., hammering stones, rough
stone axes, etc.
Living at Lake Winnipeg, the builders of the mounds, whether
they were ' the ancestors of our Indians or a distinct race
of people, were within easy reach of tide- water in Hudson Bay, the
Nelson River affording easy access to it. They must also have
known of the existence of the Saskatchewan river, the feeders of
which interlock with those of the great Mackenzie.
Though it is the favorite theory of many that the mound build-
ers came from the Norih-west, no systematic attempt has been
made to follow up the theoretical migratory path by exploration
for the remains, in the form of mounds and embankments, left by
this much discussed people.
The discovery of shells of Busycon pcrversum^ Natica and
Marginclla in these mounds fully 1500 miles from their native
waters, shows the great range of trade.
I will gladly furnish details of the discoveries made, in a second
communication.
Chas. N. Bell.
Winnipeg.
o
THE DI CESNOLA ANTIQUITIES.
Eiitor American Antiquarian:
On page 67 of your hist number I observe the following note:
"The Di Cesnola antiquities are the subject of another attack.
This time it comes from Colonel Warren, R. A., and Dr. Ferdi-
nand Duemler. This time doubt is thrown upon the accuracy of
General Di Cesnola as to where he found some of his treasures."
This, no doubt, refers to the fact that Herr Richter, a German
who has had something to do with excavations in Cyprus for some
time, has been asserting that the four chambers of the crypt at
Curium (Episcopi), in which the famous "Curium Treasure" was
discovered, had no existance in fact. Richter based his assertion
mainly up>on some excavations on the site of Curium, during which
he did not find any such crypt, and was therefore rash enough to
assume that it had never existed. Last fall he took Dr. Duemler
there and their combined efforts failed to discover anything but
their own bugbear. Cesnolas old digger, Theochares, who was
with him at the time of the original discovery, has been more suc-
cessful. In the Phone of Limassol, the neighboring town, he pub-
lishes a letter which has been largely copied by Cypriote papers
and is found also in substance in the Athenian dailies, to the follow
ing effect: Receiving directions from Gen. Cesnola to dig some
500 or 600 yards from the spot where Richter had been at work,
he began in October Lust and after 25 days' work lighted upon the
four chambers, which he says were then visited and measured by
Charles Christian, Director of the Imperial Ottoman Hank of
Limassol, Major Chard, J. W. Williamson, Saul Galep, of the
110 THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN.
private bank, and I. Penzike the interpreter. Theo chares was
there shown the pictures of objects in Cesnola's " Cyprus" that
were taken from these chambers, and recognized them as the
objects found in the crypt originally, and closes with the follow-
ing remark : "Any one can see the crypt now open, situated in the
field of the Turk Mechmet Effendi, son of Champas Aga, just
about 500 to 600 yards from where Herr Richtcr recently played
his comedy to show that these chambers did not exist. I have
bound the owner of the field not to fill up the excavation for some
time."
This seems a go od and sufticient answer to Herr Richter, and
the moral is one which may be worth pondering.
A. C. Merriam.
o-
THE BOW AND ARROW USED IN FISHING.
To the Editor America pi Antiquarian :
The bow and arrow was extensively used in fishing by all In-
dians, who developed much skill in overcoming the difficulty of
shooting through the water. Comparison with arrows intended
for hunting or war, will show the peculiarities belonging to those
ruder ones designe<l for piercing fish. The greatest number of
specimens of this kind in the National Museum come from Alaska,
and have ivory points with cedar shafts. Many have ivory heads
upon which the barbed tips are made adjustable in diverse ways.
It was intended that these should be recovered after use. The
Caribs of the Antilles had arrows which were used for killing
fishes in rivers, or along the shore of the salt water, where it was
not more than three or four feet in dopth. These were long and
made of one piece of wv><h1 with a long barb. They had a rope of
considerable length attached to them, with a buoy of light wood
at the end, which was drajjjjeil bv the woundetl fish until the Ca-
rib viudd catch it by swimming. The use of these arrows required
great e\|KM*tness. Turtles are pnx'uretl on the sandbars of the
.V ma/on bv shoinin*; arrows into the air from a long: distance, but
with judgnuMit so accurate that they fall vertically upon the tur-
tle's back auvl j'kierce his armor. The native Califomians were
e\}HM*t at shiH^ting tisli in the mountain river? and lakes of their
fa\ou\l buul: but the eastern Iiulians seem ti* have made compari-
tiNolv little u>e of this meih«Hl of fishiuir.
Ernest Ixgersoli..
THE UUSEUM.
The Museum.
GORGETS AND PENDAXTS.
lascribcd tablets of Rmall size nre rare. In tlio collection of
Philip iiiul Alfred Sharpies, of West Chester,
irc two which partake of the nature of
pendants. Fig. i represents a specimen of
sagittal form with a hole in the top for si:s-
1 pension. The etching, which occurs on both
' sides, is prohably ornamental. It is of black
slate. Fig. z is an engraving of a larger spec-
1 made of steatite, from the same collec-
tion. It is perfectly smooth on the back ; but
the front contains a conventional figure of
lal, probably a turtle, in low relief.
At the upper edge are two
perforations for suspension.
This mtercstnig example
w as found on the Bi ukU
wint 1 u We t Chtstci
The most curious specimen which has been recently discovered,
however, is the one represented in Fig. 3. On each side is dis-
tinctly engraved what appears to be a gown or <lress. Instead of
holes for suspension, there are indentions i>n the sides, which were
probably intended for the same purpose. This specimen was found
113 THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN.
by Mr. Wm. Wallace Tooker, on May 5th, 18859 at Sabonac
Bluffs, Long Island. The three engravings are of the natural size
of the original specimens. E. A. B.
COLLECTORS AND COLLECTIONS.
The Rev. M. Eells, of Skokomish, Wash. Ten, has a represen-
tative collection of antiquities and modern objects of ethnological
value of the Indians of the Northwest coast.
Mr. Norman Spang, of Etna, is the owner of one of the largest
collections of antiquities in Pennsylvania, consisting of about
11,000 specimens. Amongst many rare things it includes 90 to-
bacco pipes, 15 stone tubes; 12 "saddle-birds," 20 ceremonial axes,
60 hematites and a number of copper implements.
The extensive archajological collection of John and Joseph Col-
lett, of Indianapolis, Ind., comprises some 40,000 specimens, in-
cluding typical examples of every known form, and a number ab-
solutely unique.
Samuel W. Pennypackcr, Esq., of Philadelphia, Pa., hits an
interesting collection of stone relics, the majority of which were
found in the vicnity of Phoenixville, Pa.
The largest collection of aboriginal relics in Chester Co., Pa.,
is that of Philip and Alfred Sharpies of West Chester. It embrac-
es many thousands, representing every form of implement made by
the Lenni Lenapcs or Dclawarcs.
Dr. S. E. Babcock, of Chester, S. C, has a collection of antiqui-
ties from that state, numbering 30,000 specimens.
TYPICAL PIPES IN VARIOUS COLLECTIONS.
Ancient Indian tobacco pipes were made in such a countless va-
riety of designs that it is dilhcult to classify them, but among them
we find certain characteristic forms, which indicate their approxi-
mate age or the localities where they originated. The most
marked of these are the true mound or platform pipe, with curved
base, the sculptured stone idol or human head bowl, the trumpet
form witli curved stem (usually of clay), tht; disc or shield type,
the inverted bottle-stopper, the straight tubular form, such as is
found in ancient graves in Calif >nua, and the broad, flat platform
type, s(Mnewhat similar to the first mentioned variety, but differing
in the location of the bi)wl, wliicli is always placed nearer the end;
this is a much more recent form. In the talile below we give a
partial list of archirological collectors who own such specimens, and
the number of each. At the heads of the columns are small en-
gravings of typical specimens. The examples enumerated are, in
most instances, of almost the exact form of the cuts; in others they
are modifications, possessing the same general characteristics.
THE MUSEUM.
-1 &Ci,
114 THE A3IERICAN ANTIQUARIAN.
NOTES.
^* A Handbook to the National Museum at the Smithsonian Insti-
tution, Washington," has just appeared, from the pen of the well-
known writer, Mr. Ernest IngersoU. This little volume, which will
be placed on sale (at the low price of 25 cents) in the rotunda of the
Museum, contains a large amount of valuable information and will
supply a want which has long been felt. It contains over one hundred
pages of instructive, descriptive and entertaining matter, profusely
illustrated, and will not only be thoroughly appreciated by the
thousands who visit the National Museum every vear but will
prove a valuable acquisition to the libraries of collectors and others,
as a book of reference. It may be procured by addressing the
author at 107 Liberty St., New York.
A valuable collection of antiquities from Costa Rica, Central
America, containing about 650 objects, has been placed in the
hands of Messrs. Frederick Stearns & Co., of Detroit, Mich., for
sale. It includes many characteristic tripod vessels and dishes, a
stone "macana" or club-head with points (such as is found in
Peru), about 300 terra-cotta jars and vases of various sizes, colors
and forms, pottery whistles in form of birds and animals, three hu-
man heads or idols, about five inches high, with curious head-dress-
es, two large stone stools with three feet and carved decoration,
three flat dishes of volcanic tufa in form of reptiles on four feet,
the heads and tails forming the handles, ladles, pestles, stone beads,
celts, terra-cotta rings or supports for pointed vessels, grotesque
stone sculptures, handles of vases moulded in the shape of animals'
heads, some hollow and containing loose balls, besides a large num-
ber of other interesting things.
The price fixed by the owner for the entire collection is only
$900, an average of less than $1.50 per specimen. The lot will
be held until May 1st next and will then be transferred to the
highest ])idder. This is a rare opportunity for a public institution
to procure, at a nominal price, a most valuable collection. Should
it not he sold entire, it will be divided into groups. Collectors de-
siring small series would do well to enter into correspondence with
the firm having the sale in charge.
The Numismatic and Antiquarian Society of Philadeli^hia, will
publish, at an early day, an archaeological map of the Delaware and
Susquehanna river valleys, which will cover contiguous portions
of the States of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and Mary-
land. This will show the location of the various classes of abo-
riginal remains such as burial grounds, sites of old encampments,
shell-heaps, rock inscriptions /// .v////, work-shops, tumuli, cave re-
treats; native quarries, deposits of implenienrs and the location of
old Indian trails. Archieologists are requested to send any infor-
mation they may have bearing on the subject to the editor of this
department (The Museum), or to the corresponding secretary of
the Society, Mr. Henry Phillips, Jr., No. 320 S. Eleventh St.,
Philadelphia, Pa.
THE MUSEU5L 115.
THE MUSEUM EXCHANGE.
[Offers of Exchange from subscribers and contributors will be printed in this department without
charge.]
Arrow-heads from Connecticut in exchange for the same from
other localities, particularly Arkansas, California, New Mexico-
and Oregon ; fine points of jasper, obsidian and rare materials pre-
ferred. — Granville T. Pierce^ South Britain^ Conn,
Wanted, — Indian Pipes or casts of same, for purposes of study
and comparison, in exchange for casts of ancient Mexican and
Central American inscribed tablets, etc* Address Dr, Antonio^
Ptfkafiel^ No, IS Calle de San Andres^ City of Mexico^ Mexico,
Earlv British coins and tokens desired in exchange for other an-
dent coins. — C E, Fewster^ Hornsea^ Hull^ England,
Mr, Forrer^ ^r., publisher of *'*' Antigua^"* Zeltweg, 55, I. Hot-
tino^cn, Zurich, Switzerland, desires to dispose of a large collection
of coins, prehistoric Greek and Roman antiquities, objects from
the Swiss lakes and antquities from the middle ages.
Wanted. — To exchange stone relics of the Catawba Indians.
for objects of use or beauty. — ^S. E, Babcock^ AI, D„ Chester ^S, C,
Indian relics for Colonial and Continental notes or antique, for-
eign paper money. Address Lock Box 22^ Philadelphia^ Pa,
HOW THE MOUNTAIN SHEEP ORIGINATED.
AN HISTORICAL LEGKND OF THE COWICHANS.
This remarkable legend I found in the winter of iSSi while
conversing with a few of these Indians. Thv? Cowichans are a
part of a large nation inhabiting Southeastern Vancouver Island^
and in the lower part of Puget JSound W. T. and Frazcr river, B.
C. As a nation they call themselves Whull-e-mooch (dwellers on
Whull, Puget Sound), where, tradition says, they lived before
crossing over to Vancouver Island. This remarkable legend has
been preserved from unknown times. With our natives, as with
every race of mankind who do not possess a written language, these
tales were told by the old folks to while away the hours when
seated around the village evening fires. Thus, through succeeding
generations, they pass from sire to son. We, as a people whose
intellect has a wider development, may consider them as foolish,
yet nevertheless they, no doubt, had their origin in fact, and as
facts they were preserved and handed down by the people, or na-
tion, amongst whom they have been preserved.
"There was a time very long ago, our fathers tell us, when the
Whull-e-mooch lived a long way further south than we, their
children do now. Northward the whole country, from the sea to
the farthest mountains, was covered with snow and ice, so deep-
lie
THE AMERICAN ANTIQUABIAS.
that the heat of summer failed to melt it. Tho old folks
that their fathers did not like ihe land the\- lived in, and wished t
move, but were at a toss where to go. Southward lived a people
they feared because they were stronger than they, our fathers,
were; northward the snow and ice prevented their moving.
While ihey were discussing what to do, the spaul (raven) came
suddenly umongst.them. After listening to their grievances, he
said: ' 1 shall soon settle that difficulty;' so saying he turned all the
snow and ice into Pe kultkun, or mountain sheep, and sent them to
make their home in the fastnesses of the highest mountains, whcre^j
there would be food for them, while their wool would
clothing for the Whull-c-mooch forever. Aiter the snow had alLj
gone, the climate became warmer, and the country- drvcr, whici
enabled the Whull-e,-mooch to move northward to where we, thei
children, now live, and have lived ever since,"
This legend is the more remarkable as the migrations spokei|Q
of seem to have taken place in or about the ice or glacial period.
Whether these migrations actuallv took place as above mentioned,
or whether the numerous ice grooves and scratches which every
where abound on this portion of Vancouvers Island have gi\en the -
natives the idea that at a verv remote period, the whole land wm^
full of snow and ice, is not apparent. It cannot, however, vcrjv
well be seen how a race of ignorant savages could connect them^
when the land, or rather rocks and hills were covered with gla-
ciers, whose effects are still visible in these grooves, etc. Besides I
have never yet foimd any Indian tradition in the least degree con-
necting these appearances with the action of ice. Taking the leg-
end in its simplicity, the inference is that this part of the continent
was inhabited at a time when an ariic climate prevailed farther
south than at present, and that the change was brought about by
the spaul, in order to bbnefit the people. These people don't un-
derstand the transformation to have taken place instantaneously;
rather they seem to understand that the change became apparent
during the lifetime of numbers who lived before it took place.
Altogether the legend is a very remarkable one, and well worth
preserving. While rendering it into English I have retained the
simplicity of the original as much as I could. The big-horn is
abundant on the mountains forming the coast range of this prov^
ince. Sailing along the beautiful inland waters along our coast t
have seen herds of them gmzing hundreds of feet above us.
It has long been, and is still, to a certain extent, the common h
lief of all the various tribes of aborigines on the coast that the I
vine Being in all his actions assumes the shape of a raven. He q
all creation had no beginning. From Him cverj- thing sprui
By Him, in the form of a raven, is every thing controlled. Ma
a curious legend I have heard from the tribes of British ColumU
iind Alaska, with regard to his works of creation and prescrvatioi
James Dbans
THE POINTS INVOLVED. IIT
Editorial.
THE POINTS INVOLVED.
Wc have given considerable space in this and the preceding-
number of the Antiquarian to the Davenport Relics. The rea-
sons for this are obvious.
1. The very fact that they have been suspected from the out-
^t has rendered it necessary that the investigation should be thor-
ough. The subject of frauds has become one of the most
important and at the same time, most difficult questions which
Archaiologists in this country have to deal with. It is difficult when
only individuals are concerned ; the subject, however, in the pres-
ent case, is more complicated from the fact that the relics are in
the cabinet of a society, and are regarded by the members as
genuine. If the relics are fraudulent, the case becomes embarass-
ing to the society, and for this reason requires both candor and
caution. Wc have endeavored to exercise these; have suggested
that archaeologists should discriminate between the relics, about
which there is no dispute, and those concerning which suspicions
have been raised; have also avoided reflecting upon the individ-
ual members in any "wav, and have been careful about fastening:
{suspicion upon any known individual, but have been inclined to
think that the party discovering the relics has been imposed upon
by some unknown person. If the quotations from the Reports of
the Society have taken ten and a half pages in this journal,
the matter published by the Society amounts to over seventy pages.
2. Another reason for giving prominence to the Davenport
finds, is the fact that many important points have been made to
hinge on them. These points are as follows:
(1st,) The existence of two distinct races, one called Mound
Builders, the other Indians.
(2nd.) The existence of a phonetic alphabet among the Mound
Builders.
(3rd.) The extreme antiquity of the Mound Builders.
(4th.) The migration of the Mound Builders from a region
^'herc a phonetic alphabet existed and where the masttnlon
abounded.
(5th.) The prcser\-ation of the traditions of the flood is a point
roade by a contributor, Prof. Seyffarth, and is published by the
Society in one of its reports. Mr. W. H. Pratt, in his article,
speaks of the tablets, and says, or intimates, that there has been no
prominence given to them. The iact is, however, that the reports
118 THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN.
abound with descriptions and discussions, and all of these points
arc made to hinge upon the genuineness of the relics. Dr. Far-
quharson says, in his paper read March 19, 1877: "Ladies
and gentlemen, the last link in the chain of evidence of
the the co-evil life of man and the mastodon on this
continent, bears the date of 1877, and is to be found on
the face of the hunting scene tablet now before you."
Again, in his address Jan. i, 1S79, "^" ^^® elephant pipe we
have the keystone in the arch of evidence which has been
building for so many years." Mr. W. H. Pratt, in his an-
nual address given Jan. 5, 1881, says, "these plainly and
unmistakably show that the sculptors were acquainted with the
elephants, (the mammoth or mastodon) of which, though long
extinct, numerous remains arc found throughout this country.
.Strangest of all, and most contrary to the opinion of archaeologists
hitherto, it now appears that the mound builders had a -written
/aMjr/4ajrc, Whence derived, or what its origin, is matter of the
merest conjecture. What were its affinities, or whether it had any
connection with other written languages, ancient or modern, no one
has as yet been able to determine." Prof. Seyffarth says " in con-
templating our Davenport slab what do we notice? First, we dis-
tinguished thirty or more animals well known in the present
world, of which the most interesting is the elephant, not at all
donicstic in America. A number of these animals ap{>ear included
in two large cases intersected with lattice work. In the midst of
those aninials we see a patriarch with the scepter in his hand and
lu'hind him a sitting woman. Apart from these we notice three
other men and throe other likewise sitting women, but scattereil
among the animals. Query; Who are these eight persons — these
four men and four wi>mon? Whv are thev connected with thirtv
different animals, of which several are encageil, and hence preservetl
fi>r a future time? What has the elephant to do with North
.•VnuM'ica: I sliouKl tliink these particulars give abundant evidence
that mir tablet is a monn^rial of the Noachian deluge, and a com-
montarv to all i»ther American traditions confirming: the latter. It
makes no ilittoronoo whether this slab was engraved in America
or in that o\nuitrv from which the Indians first cmijrrated; whether
it \\;\> tho WiMk \*f the man in whose grave it was discovered, or
\\,|N a va\Mi\l rolio }>rosor\^Nl from generation to generation.*""
^ in rotVivuvV to tho ariiolo bv Mr. W. H. Pratt, we have this
t\> ^a\» tl\,it tho moth\\l v^f argument which the writer uses,
»v lu^t tho ono \\ hioh wo admire. Wo shall not imdertake to answer
tho poix^MKil .uvn^atio!^ v\>ntaini\l in iho last sentence, except to sav
xhM it i> n.^! t\i;o. Wo J«^ not ind.^rs^* tho jvisitions, nor do we quite
;»P|Mo\x^ ot :^o ur.v^xMi^o, *^xiT wo loaxo it for our readers to make
up ilu'M own nv.JuU in tvfo:vroo :.> the facts. We onlv repeat
\\ l\.it wo l;a\o vi:%l IvtvMv:
^ 1 V rh,a tho i: : ,^\ o i« w Moh :>.o :ab :o:> wore di>cv»vcre<l, accord —
^n^^ u^ I ho xlo^o J t lotion o^xo:; Vv :ho :x*riH.^a who excavated il
h,hi Voon d*Mr.»K\l; tho avoh \\,^> hn>kcn down and the fragment^L^
A C0MPLI3IENT TO ARCHJBOLOGI8T8. 119
of coal slate, heaps of stones, and loose dirt, were indiscriminately
mingled in it.
(2.) The tablets themselves, from tlic characters upon them, the
manner in which the different parts of the picture were portrayed,
and the appearance of the lines upon them, give evidence enough
that they are f raudidcnt ; the word toivn is plainly seen upon one
of the tablets; the lines upon this tablet look as if they were cut
with a knife; what is more, the circles upon the calendar stone
look as if they had been made with a compass.
(3.) The number of tablets which have been discovered by the
same individual arc too numerous. There were first discovered two
tablets; next, one tablet with an inscription, making three from
mounds. Subsequently ?i\Q tablets were found in the bed of a
creek; still later a tablet was found in Sterling, 111., making in all
nine tablets, all but one of them found by the same person. The
number of all the inscribed tablets which have hitherto been dis-
covered, does not exceed this. They are as follows: The Grave
Creek tjiblet, the Cincinnati stone, the Newark Holy stone,
the Pcmberton ax from New Jersey, the Rockford tablet, the Ber-
lin tablet, the XVelsh tablets, the tablet from Grand Traverse Bay;
but of these only four contain any inscriptions which could be con-
sidered hieroglyphic or phonetic in character, and not one of these
has been accepted as genuine. The two elephant pipes secured by
Mr. Gass have not had a tendency to confirm the genuineness of the
other relics. We now furnish additional information on the sub-
ject, and publish the letters from Mr. A. F. Berlin and from Mr.
Gass its conclusive. We believe that they confirm the position
which we have taken, that the last named gentleman has been im-
posed upon.
\
A COMPLIMENT TO ARCII.^OLOGISTS.
The editor of this Journal has been invited by the Victoria In-
stitute of Great Britain to prepare a paper on the topics which have
hecn disclosed by Hon. Wm. Gladstone, Max MtUler and Dr.
Hiixlev, to go in as a part of the discussion, and the paper to be
made a special pamphlet for distribution. The editor, of course,
appreciates the compliment and considers it an ht)nor to have re-
ceived such an invitation, especially as the Secretary says, '••the
council feel that in your hands it would be safely left, your grasp
of the subject being necessarily a more perfect one than most peo-
ple's." There is added to this invitation this compliment,'^ the quiet,
hard studv and thousrht which Archieoloijist alwavs docs." It is
this last point that we want to speak of. The Archiuologists of
this country, as those of Europe have, it appears, established a rep-
utation for habits of quiet, hard study, and they are coming to be
recognized as men whose investigations are going to prove of great
^aluc to the world.
ue
THB AHEBXCAN ASTIQUARIAN.
Wc tiikc it, then, as a compliment, not so much to ourselves indl
vidually as to the class wliich wc represent; and wc congratulate ■
the Archieologists and especially those who .have become
identitied with this journal on the fact that their labors are so fully
appreciated, Wc believe that this is owing very much to the
breadth and depth of their studies and to the ability to gntsp
subjects in their large and extensive bearings which many
have exhibited, and would say that these are command-
ing qualities and are always to be commended. They
the qualities which we have sought to encourage.
, have not, by any means, ignored the efforts which have been m
to bring Archasology into the position of an exact sciei
nor have we despised those who were coiiiined to the little teclK
niciditics of the science. We have found all labor to be usufuQ
NOTES ON EUROPEAN ARCII.EOLOG^ .
Tnic nddress of the PrcKiilent of the Aniliropologieal Institute of Ori'at Brit-
ain on the eltifsificaiioD of (lie variclics of tliu buman species is publlaliod In
Ifatarf (xxi. 78B p BM.)
TsE SlKlli Conftrrra of Itusfliin Arclimlogiela was held at Odcsfn on Sep-
tember 13, 1B84. nnd ivas vrry successful. It was divided into eieitt secIioDS;
1st, PrC'Iiieloric R>*mBlDB; Sd, Heathenish; 3d, Classical ; 4tli, Social and Do-
mesiic Art; !Uh. Judirial; Oth, Piiilotogical: 7lli, HiatoricalOcograpbieal;
8th, EtliiioErophicnl, Tbo reports of < xploratious for cliissicnl remoias olnag
the shores of [lie BlackSeawerereeeivedwIlb great Interest, as l)earlng directly
upon Russian culliire and its connection with classical civilization. Tba
Megalilhic Itcmnina in Chcreon wera described with cxacliliidc for the first
time, but M. Felctk was s'ill in doubt if ilicy were of natural or aniaoal g
wbich fl
raved Ihe const ell a I ion of llic Grc
ras cngra
exhibited by ilio Under, M. Pui
Pbof. Antosowicz pivu lUo results of his explorations in fourteen c...
hilberlo undisturbed, ibo dwellings of prehistoric man nnd in which b
found a large number of objects of tliut and other siones.
Prof. Samokwabott described his latest Pre-Scyiliian diseoveries t ..
shores of the Dnieper, being various implements, tumuli, i-keleloDS, h
burned and unbumcd, >!cc.
a remarkablo stone found in Siberia in 1
M. UEJDt'K called attention lo the late discoveries at Non'orossvjok la tl
Caucasus, of liouscs built of two pcrpcndlcuUr stones covered by a ihlirf
Of these he found many rows wbicb in one valley alone, "Cemska," ai '
ed to several hundred.
Tbe Congress wound up with an Archie otogical expcdiiiou to the Crimea.
TuE late esplorntions by Mr. Wedel in the island of Bomholm have resulted
in the discovery of remains of tbe grcitlest interest, that eibibil human devel-
opment from its earliest eras to the Age of Stouc, through il ' " '
Iron, down lo historic limes.
igb those of Bronze and I
NOTES ON ANERICAN ETHNOLOGY. 121
Dr. Kuli8CII£R read Iwforc the general assemblv of the Gcrrnnn Anthropo-
logical Association held at Karlsruhe in August. 1885. a papiT on Russian
Superstitions, in which he handled The subject of Primitive Materialism, which
be considers to be as old "as Phdosophy itself but not older " IIo advert^* to
many of the customs prevalent amonj; the lower orders, such as refraining
from giving a child under a year old fish to eat lest it should become dumb;
woaen have a habit of givini; their husbands some ^rave-earth in their drink
to keep them from loose habits; tooth ache can be cured by biting into a stone
or oak, with the aching tooth, etc. The whole article is too long for abstract,
but will well repay a careful perusal and compari<?on with Mr, Wm. George
Black's Inte work on Folk Medicine is-^ued bv tlie Folk Lore Soeietv.— (V/rrriJ-
jwirffwz 7iA/^^ c/^rZ><??//»r/< J/?rAro. 6V.W/W/rr/y AT/. 1."), Ortoher, 188"). Mk
150. . *
Mr. TiscHLER read a paper on the Decorative Art exhibited on the Iron
Weapons of La-Tine Period. --^V/. Lib. p. 157.
Mr Van Coiiaisen read a paper on Bronze Xeck Ornaments.— />. Lih.
r. 161.
Dn. A. B. Meveu read before the Vienu'i Anlhropological Soeiely on April
1*). 1{>J<4. a paper (ju>t published) in which he disciisses the quc-^tion as to
whether or not the axes of Jade and Nephrite in Europe were of A.sialic origin
amlcives it as his opinion that these finds were domestic and not foreign.
-MiUhnhtiif/tn, XV. 1. .S//r.
-()■
NOTES OX AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY.
BY I). O. inUNTON. M. D.
The Tuibes on the Uiteii Pahagiay River. — In one of the recent puhli-
'ations of the Koyal Museum of Berlin is an account of a journey by Kichard
Kohde m 1884 to the head waters of the Hiver Paraguay in the Province of Mat-
toGrosso, Brazil. He found the natives in the most primitive condition. Both
sexes go entirely naked except apiece of bark imperfectly covering the sexual
parts. Their weapons are bows and arrows, the latter tipped with bone points or
with sharp fragments of hard cane. They also have spears eight to ten feet long.
With these they do not hesitate to attack the most dangerous felines of the
tropical woods. The Boraros are described as a tall, strong, well-built folk,
dark brown in color, and bold hunters. But their country is unhealthy and
the children are largely clay eaters. AVhat is curious among them is that their
Women are the rulers in domestic life, and a Bororo wife will trounce her hus-
bood soundly without the slightest resistance on his part. ' These dames seem
dually independent in another respect, for they were liberal in tendering their
highest favors to the traveller and his com pan ions. P^vidently they had re-
duced their spouses to the most successful state of subjection. Other tril)es
which he met, the Guatos and Terenos, were in about the same stage of culture.
The Ebkimo Dialect.— Two brief but important studies touching the dia-
lect spoken by the Eskimos have appeared during the last year. One of these
i«by Dr. A. Ffizmaier, of Vienna. It is an exposition of the complete paradigm
of ibe verb in the Grcenlandic dialect. Although there are some excellent
grtminars of that dialect, thev were wntten for practical and not scientific
purposes, and their authors did not set forth the full theory of the verbal in-
necUoD.. This Dr. Pflsunaier has attempted in a paper of 82 pages in the Pro-
oeedkn of the Imperial Academy of Sciences of Vienna. If he has not com-
pleted his task in every respect, he has certainly made the fullest display of
?S4 THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN.
appointed Don Leopold© Batres as Inspector and Conservator of the National
Antiquities. The selection is a judicious one, as Senor Batres has devoted
Kerio\is study to this subject, and it is to be hoped that the carelessness and
indifference with which many of tliese objects have heretofore been treated
will measurably ccise. Up to the present time the Mexican government has
ncte<l the part of the dog in the manger,— it took no care itself of it? an-
tiquities, and prevented foreigners from taking charge of them and sending
them to museums where they would be preserved and studied.
Mr. Grorge Schwartz, niiosc address is "Care of the banker, 31. Schwartz,
Preuss. Slargardt, West Preussen, Germany," would like to exchange spcci-
m<;ns of the stone and bronze age of Europe for specimens of the stone
age in AnuTJca.
•C-
ANTIQUITIES ON THE ISLAND OF MINORCA.
In -pile of the destrovini^ h;ind of lime, tliercarc Jtill to be found in Minorca
nial(Mric Isles), eeveral mcgalithic monuments of past ages scattered all over
the ea'itern part of the island, which by the rudeness of their construction
show them'i("lve5 to be the work of the early inhabitants. Even to-day the
enorniDUs heaps of s'one called ^///n/^//< cause great astonishment; the great
stone tables, the artificial caves or cellars, rows of pillars and circles of men-
hirs, and those strange constructions in the form of a. ship, the only ones in the
world It would be a most dirticult task to suggest a creditable account
of their origin wrapped as is the problem in the obscurity of history, difllcult,
if not impossible to solve. We will content ourselves with a description of them
as they are found to-day when the lapse of ages and lack of care in their preser-
vation cause a sigh ot regret for their state of decay.
1. Tat.avot wrrir IIi(;ii Dookw.w .\t Torrlli.o — Talayots are megaliihic
monuments in form of a truncated cone whose base is circular, elliptic or oval,
and a few like a (juadrangular truncated pyramid, formed by greater or lesser
number of rows of crreat stones mostly unhewn and with no union whatever.
From o!)servation of the 180 or more which are to be found to-day on tlu*
island, all do not seem to be of the same epoch, since in some of them a cii'aiu
grade of perfection in the cut of the stones is seen which in others is lad. lag.
As perfect types we may cite those in the village of St. Augustine and Tt*rrelo
which we will hereinafter describe. The state of decay in which many of liiesc
monuments are to day will not allow us to decide whether in their primitive
slate they were all hollow or not, although we are inclined to believe that some
were solf(i on ac(!ount of bring sloping on the outside and having no trace of
an outer door. They are commonly divided into two classes of talayots, those
with high and low doorways, according as their entrance is situated in the up-
per or lower ])art of the monument. As a perfect model of the former we give
that of Torello (near Malion) which exists in a pretty good state of preserva-
tion. Its height is approximately 10 meters, it being impossible to ascertain
its exact measurement on account of the dense fields of brambles whih surround
it, and the modern buildings in its neighborhood. Its high or superior door
which is reached by some projecting stepping-stones on the outside of the
talayot, is 1.40 meters high by 1.00 meter wide; the upper stone or lintel very
well cut, measures 1.50 meters in length. Besides this are remains of two
other talayots completely in ruins, but which must have been much smaller
and some other monuments of the same epoch.
2. Mkoat.itiiic ilAniT.\Tiox AT Tei.aty de Dalt, the Best in Preserva-
Tiox. — At a distance of \A)[) meters from the entrance of the habitation, towanl
tlie north, in the interior, stands a cylindrical column (1.14 m. high) upholding
cpiadrangular stone (l.O.") m. long, *1. 30 m. wide, 0.50 m. thick) upon which
rests the anterior extremity of another centnil piece (1.60 m. long, l.UO m.
wide, 3f^ thick) placed horizontally, the other end of which rests upon an-
ANTIQCITIES OX THE ISLAND OF MINORCA. 123
i.iiji t <(ij-v:1ni0)iulnr pillar (l.I.l m- liigh) pjrttullj- Irobaildtfd in Uio w.ill. The
' li'irixontatly pinced fonnu beam iipoa wliluh rest Ibo piecei spring'
".!'■ aidcwulU formtlie roof. Tub Ureml whIIs. the ihiokneM of
iiL ijB asccrteined bjln^ so confni]Diic>d wjtli oihur Htructarcs und
"^ iiinDmernbto uucipuil sizui] hIoqcs.— are bor^-sliiw sjiaprid. tliu
i i'jv BHWut being 8.40 inclers-
3. Dor.MttS asdTalavotopTki.att OS D.M.T— By tho name of dolnttiit.
nrrlfieiai itHnrtorttbt/t in MiDuri:a nro known ci'rtuiu cvGlup«»n moniimeuts
aluko^tnlvnyscainpiMt'dof tw*);retit broad slones, Biiuated. one vcrtlcitliyor un
mil, and tbe otlier, called llic shulf. borj/.antnlly and In perfect. or|Ullibr)iim
upon the former, formins a sort of iiihle as ihn peoptn liavo appropriatelv
awaoA U. Asido from Iliesa ncitl depiirtiii;; from llie^oaerul rulu some foir
iliiTC arc Willi iwo feet or supportH. tlio swond of wlnolisomeiircba-ologisiB
iidif V,- lo l>i' nil txtni prop m tho slielt. It it be irue llint the aUnr of Turrel-
'' ' li .- 1 -I . ..'I'l I'. .1 n[ii.'tKicla M n prop merely, t lie anmi; cannot be said
' ■ ; ' ■ I .;i' Lif wlini lias buen aiid. sliir^e oolr an edge of
'< 'II- ii^i^.iinst the side of lbs Bbelf. tviisthUput
■ ■ ■!■ ■> - ■; I !■ !■ r-.uw sny tills, but others say tbat doublioss they
. 'J\.:.y.:u U.i'Au 1.1 i,iii>j .i;;il ii^iiivlncd in tile position in which they are now
jiij, KliiL^li is mil very prolj.iblo bacaiiso ih',- lower cdje ot the righl foot is
jUo abaiil or tKvel and roits tipin a sinoolli etone. inther wide. Hhowiajr
Kit could never have been placed in equllibriiiiu. Of the sixieeo itlinrs siill
>i-iius; on tli« tslumi, one of Ihe bsft prcMri'ed is that ot Telatr de Ddll. It.i
iiiH-nsionsareajfoIlowi; Lirge ultnr (T). Ilight fosi. hmtrht 2.89 m., width
Mm., iliicltncas DDTm. Shelf, leogih 4-UO ra.. width 'ISO m,, tbickneas
' VI lu. Small alur or prop (?), Il'ost, imigut. 2.8i m.. widrb 0.S3, thicknesi
"Mm Upper ed;,'v' or iihGlf (?), lonslh 0.73 in., width 0.53 m., lliiukuuss 0.30
ui Thcai: monumenta aru eneimled by iblrteea menhines, iomii Btundine.
Bninii fitllen. united or connoctod by largo blocks formluj an irregiilnr circle
opra toward the oorlb. The i;eacnil height ot tho msabird is 2 nicicrd upprosi-
BUetf, wllb the cxcitplioQ of one, wliicLis^.TO m.
4. Law PourALOifTHBT.^L.iYoroPCoiiNiA. — One ot the mosl pert %t nnil
BM clmritcurislio typBs of tnlayots with the low eutninco is aitiuicd in the
MiMof t-itrala, (Mabon). the diametor of wbicli !i approximately IS motera
nd not le» than 11 mol«r« In lieighL The low cnlraocc or inferior ilour ineai-
tnOSO m. in height and 60 m m width. Within them arc 10 or 13 steps,
aiulrway which once umloubiuitly led lo the iippar piri of the lalayot. but
Uu Tonf 1U14 fallen m and (tiled up the npace ctittrsly. Near thii. which is tht
prtncipd one of (lie eroup, are sevcrnl remains of nrtill:;lal caves or collars,
mu menhirs nnJ targe monoliths.
S KASBTa D"wTuD0Ji9.— OiUcr mcjtnlithic monuments wliirh merit at-
inU<ni aiid eurupiiUiu) sludv arc the iuiastii\ or for want ot other name, tliu
impoA*. Thoy nrc in shape ot au inverteiJ Imut. with prow to the
onnh, liuiti in llio sania mauuer us ibe InlHyols, Did ilio builders take for
I. 'I i-iin' Invertetl boats ot llie Hedes and Per.iiuns uied by tbem as hula,
':•)• uneient historians!' Six of thet; precioiH rcilc^are found almost to-
:-' <t that which is least snbeme called (/<'•■ Tarinn a short dUtaoce from
I'l -I' Tho facade or poop which looks toward the south Is irapeKoidnl
'1 Uiui. made of eroal rectaniinUr sionoi measuring at the base tibout 5.50 m.
^J' 1.31 m. 10 height. The very sm ill entrance ii situitod in the lower part
>Wl)klMat().7iS m, in height by OSnn width. The lateral w.ills. nc iriy one
xier la bolzfal. of k>>mI slonei which resi in towj upon enormous roiigb pieces
'^ nnrblc, (Itiuiriiili in Itiicknesi ai they ascend, m^a^uring in li-n^thnbiiut
■. ■■ ;i L-ir i^ in ruin* and no exict msiisuromeut can be
! !i .- m-icli narrower b» reason ot the Ihii^kiiess
I i;i 1,73 to, diminishing loward llie prow end or
■II .1 -:(n>eJ, WA^ tormjil by grG.it H tgi which rtfslod
....■: ii. i> .ilmoit impoisible to get insidu nowadays on ac-
' ilulia-i, A few ybixti since it w.is b^'lievel thit the N.ironia or
iiT doK Tiiiiim* was iLe only one iu Hinorci; bm thanks to the ciMt-
< >iis uf ihut indefiLii;rnb1e inrvstij^tto- af Minotciia Arcbxology, D.
1« THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN.
Jiuia Plmsy Soler. wc know of six more now. situated as follows. One. almost
omiplote at' Son Mercer de Baix; two in Oalafl veil y Barranco, two in ruins in
N.<« Bcttran:!: one on the tongue of land which separates the harbor bay of Sa
Nitjak
t>. Ukmaixs of a Dolmen and Circle at Bikimaymut. — Among thft most
XvrtVvt anvl Ik-sI prese^^ved of tlie menhir circles is one in the villas^t of Bini-
maviir.i: ^>Uhoa). It is horseshoe shaped, and consists of fourteen large pil-
lai ^ or Menhirs. The entrance, somewhat more than a meter is marked by two
hir*^* m >u«>IiUh of more limn 3 m. wide by 1.50m. hi^h. Within at the center
sIuikU iht^ fo.u of an altar, the heis^ht of which cannot be ascertained exactly
ou ucvHuiai of ;ho great number of stones lying about so that only about 3 m.
of It is sivn Not fur away is the talayot hidden by dense brambles and
>h<irp, thorns but formed of great rough stones and mostly ruined. At
s^mie d'KtaUi'e frvmi the talayot there are great monolyths which shows that
ihc»v have iKvn a great many large and bohl coastrnlions there.
r -Vi rvuH AT S. AuousTiN.— In the villagj of S. Augustin there are two
Mu;ill aliar>». not very high, within a circle of large stones, as in other villages.
>Vorx' lUcs4' ahars. perchance, the hcanhs on which the fires were lightcl at
m>thi. ami fr*»m which the Phopncclans named the island of Minorca. Miza,
^thx' ^ lu ihoHjune village is a larsre uliar an(i a talayot of the iKJtter sort and
piviu NM'll pri'servril, — Traindated from the ^juimWiof Fran. IJernandtz Stim
K V X t'\ //. ihmUner.
LITEKAKY NOTES.
IIY TMF. E::irOU IN CHIEF.
V'u^»oK'--i» !*VNhs. — .Vl Ihe meeting of tin* Camhridge Antiquarinn So<icty.
Nv»\. ISnN. .Mr. ('. P. Tebhult read a ro'umiinicalion on the Crooked .Lands;
ihi >..• iu* UmU lained by plowinj: c.irvod in ilie form of the Irtter S. The gen-
(louMU aH>iuued Ih.Ht they wi- re pro tuced in the Iribil periwtl before owner-
xlup III i^inp^ ot land existed. Mr. F. Sei'.rt>!irr state<l that these hiirh-baeked
tuiij-t \\i\k\ lnvn noticed in G'rminy a<i well as in England, and said that they
hvloH..\d to llie aiiiienr open field .»»ystem.
\ IC.»MV\ Vii.L.v<iE.— At the s:i:ne meeting of the C'ambridge Society. Mr.
r M lln.viluH spoke of the traces of threj houses at Shepreth.Vhich he sup-
p.K,^sl U'lon.ued to an ancient Hoaim villa;:.'. Painle,! plaster and pottery
u.u( Uvn div'overed and a tile passage.
iV\ mw nt.M>Ki) AxE.s.— Some remarkable relics are found all over this
vouuu\*u! fnun the Atlantic to the Pacific, which may be call double bladed
4\svt rh»\v an' generally made from ribbon slate bui are found in a variety
ol ui:aoilur They have a perforation through the center nnd are on this ac-
sAMOki ivmarkalile specimens. The Stone Age in Europe is generally charae-
Wyy^ssX bv ohipped and ground stone implements, and only in the Bronze Age
d\* v^o llnd axes perforated. In America there is a transition from thestobc
i\» \\w bh»n*o which may be called the copper age. and these perforated relics
«A \*\\v\\ »o WW worsnipoi jupiicr. auu ceriain lempies were built which were
^•*»tUHl teiuple* of the Double Bladed Ax. This mav have come from a primi-
M\*» «u»» wornhlp and the specimens may be regarded as sTmlx)ls which have
wtnUx^Ht fnun early times. The question arises whether these so-called axes
Mtv K\\ Ihh cimntry to be connected with the sun-worship.
l.tMi^U. MwAariiE.— Mr. R. P. Greg has a scries of articles in the
\\NidiMii,v of July 4th and SSStb, and Sept. 13th. on •* AncicLt Units of
London
Linear
Ln'ERAHY NOTES. 127
Measure," io tlie New World as well as the Old. with some criticisms on Mr.
Petrie's del erminnt ions la the September article he says: *' I have collected
about 25 of the best ancient Trojan measures I can obtain from Dr. Scbliemann's
works on Troy, and. having reduced them to English feet and
inches, I have obtained a remarkably well-marked cubit of 19.85
iDches; intermediate as between Dorpfeld*s (the old Assyrian cubit of
19.7 inches) and Petrie's (one beloniring to the Eastern Mediterranean,
of 19.96 inches, equivalent to an archaic Pha?nicinn of 20.0). It is
interesting, however, that from thirteen niposures of archaic tombs at
Sparta in Attica, as given by Dr. Schliemann in his Troja. p. 111.,
I also cet, very satisfactorily, a cubii of precisely the s:\nQo length us
Ibis old Trojan one; and from eight measures from Tiryns (.see Mycente Tiryns
chap, i.,) also an exactly similar cubit I These buildings must date back from
800to'1200B. C , and arc all more or less Cyc'opean in their character, and may
all he included in the term Pelasgic. Still more iuteiesting would appear to
be the fact that from an examination of nearly seventy of the best measures
given by Dr. Schliemann, taken during his excavations at tht^ Hncient Acropo-
lis of Mycenoj. the precise pame cubit of 19.85 again is clearly obtainable."
He gets the same cubit also fur the Piirygian and Etruscan u'-iit, but he be-
lieves that the Hittite was one of 21 inches, derived from a Babylonian me..sur**.
Mil. J. Theodork Bunt has found some interesting remains of ancient
speech in a viPageon the north of Carpathos in the ^Eegean, among them the
use of a hani gamma, recalling the digamma in certain words, altliough the
dialect in general drops the ordinary gamma on every possible occasion.
Excavations on the site of the ancient Agora at Athens are progressing, and
have yielded numerous fragments. As the accumulation of ages has raised
the level some 25 feet here great expectations may be realised.
BiBLTCAL Arcii.«olooy. — At thc June (18S5) Society of Biblical AicIkcoIo-
gj', Hev. II. G. Tomkins read a paper identifying local geographical names
in Northern Syria with the names contained in the Karnack list of Thothmes
III; Mr. P. le page Kenouf one (m the eclipse in the Egyptian texts, c g. "The
sun whose vision is diminished," "thc bla^'k boar attacks the eye of Ha," "the
tortoise is the deadly enemy of the sun god," "life to l^i, death to the tortoise."
"The sting of the serpent is inflicted upon the sun-god, his place in the solar
bark was vacant."
The Court in Egypt. — The same Journal has an arl'cle by Howard Osgood,
D, D., descriptive of the dress and manners of the royal family in Egypt.
Sun Images. — The Old Testament Student has an article on the above sub-
ject by Talbot W. Chambers, D. D., in which the extent of sun-worship is
dwelt upon. It prevailed among the Syrians, Egyptians, Babylonians, Greeks,
Romans, Germans, and Canaanites. 'fhe contrast between this and the true
worship is sliown.
TiiR Saviour in Literature. — The same Journal has some remarks on
the idea of redemption by Justin A. Smith, I). D. It appeirs in all religions,
Pagan as well as Christian.
ALPnABET OF the Savages. — Mr. Henry W. Haynes in the Proceedings of
the American Antiquarian Society, 1885. refers to the article tn this Journal
by Dr. Brinton on the "Tacnsa Grammar," and then describes thc pictographic
Ainencno manuscript which was published in 1860. but which brought down
ridicule without stint and which was called the Book of the Savages in the light
of French civilization, as it is full of the figures with which boys and vulgar
men disfigure walls; and proves to be a grand mistake, though the Abby
Domeoedi undertook to defend it and to construct an alphabet out of it.
The edition was finally suppressed by the Emperor and the Abby himself. Pos-
sibly some of thc over- wise scholars of this century are undertakingt o construct
alpbabcts out of fraudulent relics wdl take warning.
Skx i-LuNAR AND Cbbscent-shaped Tools.— The same report has un in-
tercsthag article on the above title by J. J. Valentini.
128 THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN.
A Statb Academy of Science was organized Dec. 29, 1885. in ladianapolis,
D. S. Jordan, Presidcat, Prof. A. W. Butler. SecV. •!• N. Hartley. Librarian.
An arliclc on the life of Riifinesque was read by Dr. D. S. Jordan.
The Llama TEMi*LB.~Thn Overland Monthly for October (*85) contains
an article on the great Llama Temple at Peking by C. F. O. Gumming. Tho
Temple contains stone oarviog of animals and thousands of fantastic figures
of birds and beasts carved in wood; those are supposed to be very old. Stone
drums, said to be 4.000 years old are in the temple area.
Anccent Linear Mea<iures — The Canadian Record of Science, Vol I, No.
4. has an article on some pre-histonc and linear measures by R. P. Greg. The
foUowinfi: countries arc mentioned; Peru, Mexico. Mound Builders, China,
Japan, Mon>rol, Ilittite. Buddbis^, Bronze and Stone Period. Oceanica,&c.
No uniform measure 1ms been Axed upon. The question is still unsettled.
TiiADiTiONS OP TUE A1NO8. — Thc samc journal bus an article on the above
subject by D. P. PenhuUow.
The Atiiaiiascans. — The same journal has an article on the Athabascan
district by E. Petitot, in which the tribes are located.
pRE-iirsTORTC Reucs AND MouNDS.— Thc Canadian Antiquarian, Vol. XII,
No. 8, contains u description of a hook-shaped implement of native beaten
copp<T, seven inches lon^, found under drift clnv and sand, 25 feet, on the
north shore of Lake Superior. The hook was found umid a number of frag-
ments of charred wood. The sjimo journal reports a discovery by Mr. C. N.
Bell, of an ar.ow-head workshop ut St. Andrews in Wiunepeg; 183 llinl ar-
rows and 87 fragments of pottery A'cre taken out. A mound was excavated
by a si>ecial committee of the Hist. Soc*y of Winncpeg. Sionc tubes, sea
shell ornaments, a tiny red earthenware cup, fragments of bones, buffalo
horn, were discovered.
SroNS Tu3ES. — An explanation is fi:iven in the sime journal that thc stone
tubes are u^d by medicine men for the purpose of sucking evil spirits out of
thc sick. The above is said to be the largest And of stone implem3nts in this
country, that is, Canada. The custom of burning bodies and covering them
with earth-heaps seems to have been observed there as well as elsewhere among
the Mound Builders.
Boulder Mosaics in Dakota. — The above is the title nf an interesting arti-
cle by Prof. J. E. Todd in the American Naturalist for January, 1886. The
figure of a turtle and of a serpent, also of a cross, was found at Turtle Point in
Jerauld County. Other sketches of animals are found near Pipestone, chipped
or peeked on the surface of the ruck.
TiiK Quarter Centennial Celebration of the settlement of Kansas has been
recently observed at Topeka. The Daily Commonwealth of Jan. 80 has a full
account of the proceeding-*. Spcjecbes by Gov. M irlin. Ex-Gov. Robinson,
Dr. McCabe, Rev. Richard Cordley. and others. Gov. Reeder's Diary is also
given in full, and has thrilling' interest as it shows what was endured
to make Kansas a free state.
Galveston Historical S joi^rv (k'-iires l('ltiT«< and jmrnals lehitivc to the
early history and selilement of 'Vv\ i^. a:i I facts illusirative of Indian Trilxas.
their history, chiefs, warriors, elc.
AuciLKOLonicAL Map. — The Xumismatie and Anliciuariin Society of Phila-
delphia has undertaken a map of the valh^ys of the Delaware and S'lsquehanna
rivers which shall embrace the followini; item:*: gravel deposits, shell hea|is».
cave retreats, village sites, earth works, old field •«. (luarries, work-shops,
caches, mortars in rocks, rock-inscriptions, burial places, tumuli, Indian trails.
E. A. Barber, J. R. Baker, Henry Phillip?, Jr., F. Jordan, S Culin, D. O.
Brinton, committee.
LITERART NOTES.
1S9
tiii)^[ iijipri'diilpil orguna of French AuUiropjilopv. tin- Jt(T>ie d'
•■ " ■ r..i:i!Lt..rl iii'_1872 by Pnul Brocuaml conlinutil by Paul
-:> <! soHcs with lUeco-operniion of llie mnat distiu-
:i<i' vnrious bi'anclw' of An Ihropolocicnl Science.
' fnlluwiD}: uiiniea: Dr. Qavareui. tlirccior of llie
I- I'lrH:" Dr. MfttlUliis Duvol, tlircc;lorof tlie Subor-
-opu1o!:ie ik- r&olc diw UdiircH Etudes; Marquis ila Nndnciluc
jboM priocipal work on preliistoric ArcbawloRy. one particularly on '■L'Amc'
pn Pre-lilHtortpi." Ima bi^ca Imnslalcd Into Eng-Ilsh; aenonil Fiiidticrbc.
~eftl CImncellor of the L"}!ion il'IIonnn«ur. well known for blaplillolosical
riu; Dc Qimln-fiigrs. Pmfes^r nf Antlimpolo^cr nt Ifae Museum; Dr. Humy
3 1.0UI* RonweUl, wlio liiRbly rpprcscnt Ethnology; Jules Boebnnt. Qi-numl
^Mctor of til- Medical S«rvioe in ilie frcDcb Navy; Baroit Lanvy iind
KlArfaoU de liibainvllle of Ibu Inslilul. Tlie direcior of \\\e Unvt. Dr, Paul
1. iaGcneml Secretary of ilic An Ihropol osteal Society and tUe iiutbor
'ttitenUd'AnOiropnUtgif GfiienU. to whicb Ilic Acndrmledo Sciences
• lul mnnih awaided ooe of lis nnnunl priEcs. P.
\^ Thk Lanuuaoks of tjik Caucasus.— Mr. R N. Cusl, wliosu browsing*
•o many liajsuisiic fields arc so widely known, and who ineriia ihc thnnka of
idcnia of lingiiialic ftciunco for (lie pioneer work be is doing, by which tlio
'■ors of more profound invealigoioi's arc licbtencil, lias, as hia latest coniriliu-
1. publisbed a paper with the above title in the Jour. Itoy. Aaint. Soc., Vol.
■■* " — ■ '1. In this he has brought together with great industry all nrail-
. JOD concerning the ethnical and lincuislic divisions ot'^llie singu-
f a\xtA population of ibis laree region. Not only has he consulted ^I
■-'Ow W> be found in Hio libniriw of Europe, a list of which is the not least
Girt of his papery but in t883 he made a journey to the Caucasus and
a inquirio* on Ihu spot. The ebisaiHcaiion of tongues which ha
^ ta la briefly us follows: I. Persian, spoken in the soulbcm disliicis whicll
M belonged to Persia: a. Kurd, represented liy forly-four thousand iraml-
knu, aeilled a little north of the Persians; 3 Armenian, spoken by about
' »(]nivrters of a million of souls, mostly in The laree towns; i. Ossete. tbn
PB of a Iribo silualed In llie center of the range and numbering ono
.0 and eleven thousand; 5. Turk!, found inoatly on the Caspian side and
Kin); nine dialects, spoken by nearly a million and a ((uarier of people;
OTgUn, found nearer the Bla':k Se^i, and reprc^o oting a group of live not
ly clranly related dialects, spoken by nearly a rnillion of souls; 7. Abkbns or
Abbi, living on the Block Sea and numbering twenty-two ilioiisHnd ; 8. Tsher-
tnt or lH>tlcr known as Circaasians. living in the nortli-western part of the
ttoge and repretoottug the (ragmont remaining behind afler 400.000 of Ibcir
Pcupir bad migrated lo Turkey in Europe in 1864; 9. Awar, mountaineers who
lin , lo Ihe number of oni) hundred and tltly-flve thousand, on the Caspian end
ullhe tnnge; 10. Hurkan, n population of cigbtr -eight lbou»ind eual of the
Awar: II, Kaslkumunk, niiml>ering Ihirlyfive lliousand and living between
ilMAwar and ibe ITurkan; 13. Tabasserun, a Iribe of tixtecn thouxand in the
vnic iTi-'inn : !:(. Kiirin. a large tribe of one hundred and tbirlyone Ibousand
■"ul'a It'ih: -'iiiiii of ibosc just named; 14. Artsht. name of asingle village
•f"!)l.iii^- 11 -iniTiL'i' longu'': 15. U<ie, spoken in two village? south of thoEurio;
ii-ml IT T.iii;-iii-ii and Tush, who occupy tlie northern slopes of eastern Cau-
''-i-iu- Mri~t i>f Hie ulwve luuEuages are spoken with considerable dialect va-
'I1U..1I . tnit precise Infcrmntlon on this point ia not yel forLhConiing. The fltst
'uDr iHiigiii^jn Iwlong lo tti,- Aryan family, the fl'th to the Turanian, and the
'"HlndiT ampliiecd in a ('Huatimn griiiii w^iose alliiliiet arj yel doubtful,
ieulurcil lun!M'ixe*"i4pa>)djmu7h to tho v.Llnuof t:ii.' pipur. J. A.
i : liria In hand a mono^rtip') on Ihc niicienl history of Rhodes,
" i«su(Kl by the Cambridge Unuiversity pi'vss, There IsDO
III' subject In Englisli. and the nniuemus In-M^ripCloos and
" 1 red ill the isi.inJ within ibc p.isl flfiy year* offjr a Held
■ ■ .;., .u' .J .iiii^rinllng subject. M.
C T. Nbwtos — It is n!poiie<l that Mr. C. T. Kewion has signifled Ms in-
leaUiniof nttiguiut; at ilioend of this year the kcvpership of Qrtek and Roman
130 THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN.
Antiquities at tlio British Museum. lie has been ia the public f^^rvicc for
forty five years, and asks the repose he has so well earned. He will retain,
however, his professorship of archeeolo^ry at University College, London, and
will still De a potent factor in the archieological world. M.
•c-
BOOK REVIEWS.
Documents Rfntinq to ths Ooloninl IIi<ti»ry of the State, of yew Jemy. Edited by
FuKDuiCK \V. UicoKn and \Vm. Nelson, Vol. IX. Newark, N. J., Daily
Advertiser Printing House. 1885.
The Historical i^ocicty of New Jersey continues to publish the archives, the
first series having reached the Ninth Volume. Besides these the Society bus
published annually the proceedings in four parts, Vol. VllI of the second scries
having been just flnishe.i. Mr. Wm. A. Whitehead, was tlie corresponding secre-
tary for many years, but his most important work was that of editing and
publishing the seven volumc-j of the Documents. He died m August; his memoir
and likeness have appeared in tlie New En^laiKl Gcneological Register. The
legislature of New Jersey has been very libenil, having made *"ttn appropria-
tion which should enable the HlMtoncal Society to arrange, collate and publish
any papers relating to New Jersey History."
TranMCiions of tlie New York Academy of Scunees. Vol. III. 1883-84. Editor,
Alexis A. Julien, School of Mines, Columbia College, N. Y. Also Vol. V.
No. 1. Oct. 1885. Edited by Hkuman LeRoy Faiuciiild. Recording Sec-
retary. Published for the Society in eight monthly numbers.
The American Antiquarian is noticed in the first named volume, in con-
nection with the subject of paleolithics. a discussion having arisen in one of
the meetings of the Society over i he article written by Prof. H. W. Haynes.
Prof. Newberry, at this lime, al«o took occasion to commend the article by Mr.
Boscawen on Assyrian discoveries, for all of which we arg very grateful.
IlerocH of Ancient Greec. A story of the days of Socrates the Athenian. By
Ellex Palmeu. New York:*Thomas Whittaker.
This IS a love story abounding with Greek names and moilern Christian
ideas. A discussion between Greeks and Jews in Athens, is listened to by
level's in Greek costumes. Tiie whole thing is purely imaginative and very
little realistic description in it. The l)Ook abounds withengmvings, some of
which are (juite good, especially that of the Parthenon, and the mechanical
execution is excellent.
St. Cion'ijt: and the Dnif/ou. A world-wide legend localized. By Guanox.
London: Wyman ik Sons, ISK).
The idea of this book is that the legend of Si George and the Dragon had
its orii^in in England. The author says that "the most southern point in
EnL'land IS called the lizard. Why so nan: ed? Perhaps from the dni^on of
GeoloL'v which is to be sought in the saurians, signifying a lizard." Ihc im-
aginary contest between the dragon and his conqueror is based upon an actual
contest whi<!li occuiri'd olT the roast of Jingland. l)etween one of these mon-
sters of the tleep and an "unknown youth." This is the latest version of tlie
legend. Tiie reH(;inblance brlwi'en a rocky point of land over which the while
Hiirf rides and a dragon over which a horse and rider stands as conqueror, seems
to have iinpr(>sHed tin; ini::d of the writer. The question now is whether the
legend is hiHtoric or pre historic, natural or imaginary. The mists ot anti-
quity envelop ii, while the lit<'rature concerning it increases. Perhaps the
old explanation that it nignilled the contest between the night and da}*, light
and darkness, will give way to this pre hi.storlc view.
The Jjtna])c Ston* or the Indian find the Mammoth. By II. C. MEHCEa. New
York: G. P. Putnam's Sons. IHHTi.
The subject of ElephanlM and Klephant-pipcs is at present attracting a good
deal of attention in thU country. The uigument in this booK is in favor of
BOOK REVIEWS. 131
the opiDion that elephants were knoAvn to the nborigincs, and various facts
arc brought out lo prove the point. The especial occasion of the boolt is the
discovery of a stone in Pennsylvania which lias an elephant inscribed upon it.
Letters arc oublished in the latter part of the book from Mr. Carvill Lewis.
Dr. D. G. Brinton, F. W. Putnam, and Mr. Joseph P. Iddlngs, the most of
whom take A position against the {genuineness of the stone, especially the carvings
upon it. The book will bo sought by archa?olo^ists who want lo know the
arguments on both sides of this inti resting (question.
Th^ Orlt, The Jioman, and The A/row. Bv Thomas Wiugiit. London: Trub-
ner&Co.. 18«5.
The author of this book takes the position at the outset that there are no
monuments in England of any importance preceding the time of the Roman
conquest, a position which should have been abandoned by this time. As a
history of the early period the look is valuable. The great fault with the early
history of Great Britan and of this country, is that it<lwell8upon theexploiisof
the conquering race rather than upon ihe 'character of the coiKpiercd. This is
avoided by the writer, yet if we could learn more about the Briiains and their
clan organizations, about the Druids and their mysterious religion, and about
the monuments and homes which belong to the conquered peoph*, we should
have been better satisfied. The book is a standard in England. It is excellent
authority, and has had an extensive sale in this country, hav-ng reached tho
fourth edition.
Dorumeniarff Uintory of the State of yfaiue. Vol. Ill; containing the Trelawny
Papers. Edited and illu<ttnited with historical notes by J.\.mgs Piibne Bax-
ter. Published by Maine Historical Society, aid^d i»y appropriations by
the State. Portland: lloyt, Fogg «k Douham; 18S4.
The Trelawny Papers preserve for us many pirlioiilirs concerning tlic lives
of some of the hardy founders of New Enirland, and present lo us many pic-
tures of their political and (hnnestic life, Robert Trelanny lived at Plymouth-
in Cornwall. West of England. He obtained a grant of land including Rich-
mond Island and Cape Elizabeth, and assisted in establishing a colony. X
Toluminous correspondence between John Winter, the "Governor" of Tre-
lawny's plantation, and the proprietor, with valuable letters from others ttirow-
iDg new light up6n the history of Maine. i< contained in the volume. There
are several maps showing the patents which weie granted, and full page cuts
'Which sliow the houses and coins of the period, and an aibertype of the let-
ters, and a facsimile of the patent itself. The volume is a credit to the So-
ciety, which now has its scat at Portland instead of Brunswick.
Ewiutiou and Beligion. By Hexuy Wai.d Beeciiei:. New York. Ford,
Howard & nurll)ert.
Mr. Beechcr is rapidly becoming a siiint in the eyes of the evolutionists. His
character as a preacher and theologian has not changed so much as it has as a
scientist. The change of base does not. Iiowever, make him any profounder
as an investigator, or safer fs a teacher than he was before. As a popular
presentation of the subject ot Evolution viewed in its theological luspects,
the book is an interesting one and perhaps may be useful to those who tind
difficulty in reconciling the two systems.
Lebanon, DamtiteuBand Beyonfithc Jnvd^m. By William M. Thomson, D. D.
147 illastrations and maps. New York: Harper t\: Brothers: 188G.
This superb book is the third and last of the series issued under the old
title of the Land and the Book. The tii*st was entitled Southern Palestine and
Jerusalem, th&second Central Palestine and Pha^nicia, and this is devoted to
Beyond Jordan and Enstw^ard. The engrayinqs are excellent and add very
much to the interest of the book. We sec at a glance the difference Ibe-
tweeu tiie Roman sculpture and the old Jewish bevelcHl stone. We see alsoXhe
reciinensof Greek sculptu»'c which in this locality arc strangely beautiful.
few of the engravings from the old edition are found in the new book but
they are few •comparativcl}'. Arclueologists will value these volumes i^or
the qiiccmens of architecture which arc described and il lust rat rated. For Bible
183 THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN.
students, the book is almost a necessity as it illustrates bible scenes so clearly.
It is elegant as a work of art and we have no doubt will meet with a ready
sale.
JVtffwmJ Theology or R%tio)ial T/ieism. By M. Valentine. D. D. S C. Griggs
&Co., Chicago, 1885.
The author of this little book sccxs to be familiar with the latest phases of
thought and has incorporated into his system the various arguments which
are furnished by recent studies and speculations in reference to the existence
-of God. the methods of creation and other subjects. The standpoint is purely
theological, somewhat metaphysical ; bat the author takes in the cosmoiogical
scheme as given by Rcientific men ; with the idea of reconciling the old system
with the new. He is somewhat successful, and for those who desire to know
how Natunil Theology, according to the strictly orthodox view may survive the
shock of the times, the book is a suggestive and interesting one.
Eftifitm ReasouB; a mniiunl for general readers aiid studenis of the recufed ter
mnofthe Old Testunient, oMoaniing for eioery change. By the Rev. C. G.
GiLLisriE. A. K. C, A. C. P., &z. I^ondon, John Haywood, 1885.
This is a very critical and scholarly essay, the object being to give the gen-
eral reader the means of testing tiic character and principles of the revision.
It is a sort of hand book or aid to the critical comparison of the two ver-
sions.
Zur r^ilk*'knn(fe der Sitbenb'uergutcher Sar/igcn. Von Josef Haeltrick. Wien.
Carl Qraeser. 1885.
A remarkably thorough presentation of the subject and most excellent con-
tribution to the literatu-e and Folklore of an interesting portion of Europe.
Its contents are folk-tales, stories of the beast-world, gypsies, games, humor,
provorbsi. etc.. and the whole Ave hundred pages are valuable from cover to
cover. Mr, Graeser desi»rve3 great credit for this new edition which has been
ably editeil by Mr. J. Wolf. P.
o-
PAMPHLETS RECEIVED.
JonN S. WuioiiT.— An addre!« iloliveretl before the Hist Soc. July 3l8t.
18S5. by Augustine \V. Wright, Chicago, Fergus Printing Co.
LiFK Lilonirv l.;\lK»rs and NegUvlotl Gr:ive of Henry Wilde, by Charles C.
Jones. Jr.. 1*. L I>. ^
Si^MK i^lwiTvatioas on ihe lA»tters o' Aniori^rrt Vespucci, by M. F. Force,
ry*ad U»fonM ho Concrxs Intern Aiionil 1X»^ AmcricnniHte^ at Hrussels, Sept
18T». iMnoinnali. Uolvr; iMarke %!' Co : ISSV
PmHK;:oiNiisof The Canadian Institute. Toronto, Julv, 1885.
Vajvorsal or I'osnuo Tinuv bv Suivlforvl Fiom:«ia?, C. E., C. M. G.. etc,
Torv^nto. l\*VP' I'larkc Jc l o ; iVSo.
THE
tuj^xxc^n JXnixqni^xmn.
Vol. VIII. May, 1886. No. 3.
HUMAN FACES IN ABORIGINAL ART.
The imitative art which prevailed among the prehistoric people
of this country deserves study for several reasons. i. Because
we learn from it that skill which was well nigh universal, the
imitation of objects being a natural gift which was exercised in
all its variety by this people. 2. We learn from it what ideas pre-
vailed among this people and what tastes and sentiments ruled
them in their attempts at rude artistic culture. 3. We may
ascertain what objects were most admired and sought for in
ornamentation. 4. We may find what animals and plants for-
merly abounded in the country, as the objects imitated were
mainly from the vegetable and animal kingdom, 5. We also
learn about the habits of the people ; whether they were
accustomed to migrate and then fix upon objects which had
attracted their attention, or to remain sedentary and only
able to seize upon such objects as came under their own obser-
vation and imitate these. On this point there may be differences
of opinion and yet the study of the objects imitated will ultimate-
ly decide the question. 6. We may learn something about the
features and forms of the prehistoric people, as there are many
imitations of these among the specimens of native art. 7. We
n^y learn from it the general characteristics of the prehis-
toric people, as the objects which are presented furnish,
not only imitations of the material world about them, but a pic-
ture of their own minds^and characters. The amount of infor-
mation which we may receive from these imitative objects is very
considerable. It is perhaps equal to that which is gained from
the study of their architecture, their symbolism, and perhaps
surpasses that which is gained from the study of their ordinary
rdics or works.
^ As to the ways in which their imitative skill, was exercised, a
184 THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN.
few words may be said. We have already seen that there were
several kinds of material in which imitative figures were embod-
ied, such as figures moulded in clay, or pottery, figures inscribed
upon rocks, or inscriptions, engraved upon wood and stone, oth-
ers drawn upon tablets.
These may be classed as follows :
I. The imitation of vegetable forms. 2. The use of certain
conventional arbitrary figures many of which seem to be sym-
bolic. 3. The imitation of animal figures. 4. The imitation
of the human face and form.
All of these are important and are worthy of study; but the
last named is the o le to which we shall call especial attention at
this time. The imitative skill of the prehistoric people seems to
have been exercised more fully in depicting the human face and
form than an/ other, and therefore should engage our attention.
As to the motives which ruled them in these imitations, we
are uncertain and yet we may imagine that the following were
prominent :
1st. The imitations of the human face and form, may have
been the result merely of a fancy ; the playful spirit finding a
ready source of amusement in these imitations. 2d. There may
have been a religious motive with some. Possibly the person-
ification of divinity was embodied in these imitative figures; or
ancestor worship and reverence of the dead may have ruled and
made the figures objects of worship. 3rd. There may have
been in some cases an attempt to present a likeness, and so the
objects must be regarded as portraits. 4th. The imitation of the
human face involved skill and the motive in many cases may
have been the artistic sense which prevailed.
Other motives may have come in and served to streng^then
the imitative skill, but these are the chief. We have taken them
as a basis of classification. The division of the relics is from an
artistic standpoint and not the industrial; this is the division in
which we are at present interested. Ordinarily the relics would be
classified according to material; those of wood in one, of stone
in another, etc. But in studying the imitative art we must ignore
to a certain extent the material, and look only at the imitative
shapes. Grouping the relics in this way without asking the
question whether they are pottery or pipes, or have any particu-
lar use or character, we find a number of relics in the shape of
vegetables, or having vegetable ornamentations upon them, these
we place in one class. We find a still larger number in the
shape of animals, these we put into another class. We find also
many specimens which are imitative of the human face and form,
these we put into the third class, the class in which we are es-
pecially interested. Next we sub-divide the last class into sever-
al other classes, according to their motives, and so we make three
or four classes from them.
HUMAN PACES IN ABORIOINAL ART.
18B
»
»
I. We select those which are grotesque in their appearance,
and which seem to have been wrought for the sake of fancy, these
constitute the first class. 11. We next select the specimens
which are more normal and regular in iheir appearance, and
which seem to have been designed as imitations of the human
face. III. We take those objects which, in their shape as well as
attitude, and form and expressions which are given to them, con-
vey the idea that they may have been used as portraits, and make
these a class by themselves. IV. We select those specimens which
from their form or from the symbols which they contain, sug-
gest the idea that they may have been used as idols, and make
these a fourth class. These four classes of objects will come be-
fore us for examination and we shall endeavor to study the faces
and forms which are presented by them, wiUi a view of fi.xing cer-
tain points which are now uncertain. Our inquiry is not so
much as to the relics themselves as to the people who fabricated
them. The point which we have in mind is thai possibly these
imitative forms may give to us an idea as to the real appearance
of -the people; in other words, we are to examine them as por-
traits, and ask the question whether they can be regarded as true
likenesses.
I. We begin with a cut which combinesa variety of figures {Fig. I)
taken from the Smithsonian Archaiological collection. Dr. Ran
describes tliem as a special class of aborigmal relics, among which
the human body, or parts of it are the most conspicuous. These
relics are gathered from many different localities, and present
many different kinds of faces. We shall give Dr. Rau's descrip-
tions of them. First, The stone image, {No, 215), he describes
as follows: It is more than 20 inches in length, and weighs 37)^
pounds. It was discovered in a cave near Strawberry Plains, 16
miles east of Knoxville, Tenn. It consists of crystaline lime
stone, the fracture of which can be seen at the back of the head
where the figure seems to have been detached from the rock out
of which it was sculptured. The face shows a somewhat promi-
nent nose and strongly marked brows, and the eye consists of
small oval cavities, while the mouth is ring shaped as in many
Mexican representations of the human countenance. A groove
extends across the face between the nose and mouth. The ears
an: unproportional ly large. There is no body, properly speak-
ing, but merely a kind of four-sided pedestal with a flat base on
which the figure can stand. Its front side shows an appendage
in the form of a small apron, which may, however, be intended to
mark the male sex, Lastly, there are to be seen on both sides
of the figure, cavities, perhaps cut out in lieu of arms."
The second figure{No. 216}. was said to have been in the pos-
session of Thomas Jeflerson. Dr. Rau says, it is a human head
cut almost in life size, in lime stone ; there is no deformitj- in any
pa«t of it. It may be the likeness of some aged person with a
tllTHAK FACE8 IN ABOIHOINAL ART.
18T
■ eluding A peculiar head dress is carefully, though not artistically,
Ivjtecutcd in its details, while the body merely forms a sort of ap-
Ipcndagc. Tt consists ofa greenish grey stone.
I Another specimen (No. 2201. measuring about I >i inches in
Ijicight, and carved from white alabaster, represents a human fig-
^ure with a remarkable countenance and an unproportionally
small body, in the squatting posture characteristic of Mexican
images. The neck is pierced for suspension.
lastly we mention a carving (No. 321), in the shape of a
leath's head, not larger than a walnut, which was found among
Lhe ruins of Chichen Itza, in Yucalan, The flat back ofthis di-
minutive representation ofa skull, is perforated at each side with
i diagonal hole. The material appears tn be silicificd wood.
It will be noticed that the cut contains the different classes of
Some of them are grotusqu.- and distorted; (Nos. 216
Bad 2 if). Some of them irc more nitural and are apparently
jgood imitations. (Ni
^tended as portraits repi
senting the fi.-atiirts
liiffercnt races, or tribi
We now prorj.
adcscription of ihc re!
■nd shall first sp?ak-
e comical Cices,
We present a serii;
^uta some of which h,
H H.sed by Mr I].
Ifiarber. but which
Fuse to illustrate th^' [)■ >
They coata n
offace^, a Q
Itsque and
they sho
Were m a
which ih p
, could be
lajority of
pjcsand n
ten dcs t il
[iifKwt of n
McTcct or
leca^c, t
■is !taV.ed
Ivcry p n
whole figu f
'uving been
gout th p
It 8 z
U8 THE AMERICAS ASTIQCAIUAS.
blind eye, from Dr. j. M. Macedos collection in Lima. The
mouth is peculiarly comical and shows that there was considerable
skill in moulding comical bees among the Peruvians. Two
other vases from the Macedu collection, (Figs, 3 and 4), are rep*
resented, one of which is a laughing face and the other a carica-
ture of old age. In these, diflerent features are seized upon to
make caricatures. In one, the mouth, and the other the wrinkles
are the most prominent.
Another vase, or jar (Fig. ^,'1 is described by Mr. Barber
as having been found in a deep cutting of the Mexican National
Railway near Toluca and deposited in
the Metropolitan Museum at New
Vor-k. The prominent feature in this
face is the ear or rather the
nient. although the face itself is also
sonitthing of a caricature of old age.
These specimens of pottery show a
sportive spirit and yet they exhibit
considerable skill in the way of imi-
tation and possibly may have been
designed as portraits as well as cari-
catures ; at least, the Indian face is ap-
parent in them. There are many such faces depicted in the pre-
historic relics, and
it would some-
times seem as if
there was 3 com-
mon cast of coun-
tenance through-
out the entire
country; still, wc
suppose that cari-
catures arc the
same in all parts
of the world and
the ludicrous fig-
lltTMAN PiCES IN Sff'
I ures show what is common to human nature, rather tlian what is
[ peculiar to the American race. A specimen somewhat similar
to these is depicted upon a pip; which is owned by Luke
Mulluck, Jr., Waterdown, Ontario. Canada. It has a grotesque
lookin;^ face upon one side of the bowl and an arm lunning out
from the center of the bowl to support the face. It is a carica-
ture of old age similar to those just furnished ; it is supposed to
be an Indian pip^. Another specimen is given in Fig 6, It is
I a modern Indian pip-'. The Indian feituTLS arc depicted in it
I and yet the face is a decidedly comieal one Two more faces
I are presented in Fig. 7. This
\ is also a clay pipe from Penn.,
f from the collection of J. M.Cer-
1 nerd, of Muncy, Pa. Two hu-
I inan faces are moulded into
I the pipe ; one possibly intend-
Icd to represent the male, ihe
I'other the female. The faces
e grotesque and semi-comic*
I the eye being especially the
[ object which was caricatured.
Still another face is presented,
by way of contrast, {Fig. 8).
This specimen is a stone idol
pipe from Ihe collection of "-
Dr. Miesse, of Ohio. It i-; ,1 ■
better likeness than ihc otln : l
figures but shows by waj- «('■
Lcontrast how grotesque the
Ppottery pipes are.
Mr. Barber speaks of the great clumsy idol pipes, fashioned in
'Jthe semblance of the human form or head, as if belonging to a
r more recent period than the mound builders. On this point we
1*0 THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN.
are uncertain. There are many such pipes in Ohio and we thinu
some oflhem belong to the moimd builders. They were aimplw
bowls with a cavity for the tobacco and an orifice for the inscrtia
of a stem ; but wtjre carved into the shape of human laces for thf
sake of ornamentation. They were often of great weight
must have been placed upon the ground when used, the smok)
being conveyed through a long reed, which was inserted in ('
orifice.
We present here some specimens whJcli will illustrate this pra
ticc of making grotesque
likenesses. These are
gathered from various lo-
calities, Some of them evi-
dently belong to the later
Indians ; others however,
were of an earlier dale.
The peculiarity of them all 1
is that the human face is
portrayed, but in such a
shape or with such an ex-
pression as the original
object would suggest. We
first give a pipe made from
stone %vhich is now in the
possession of M. A. G.iv-
itt, of Madison. Ind. TIk ^
stone weighs 3 lbs, 10 i-.
see Fig. 9; the stem 1
upon the side. It is n .
the shape of a trunc.-itcd _
sugar loaf or cone, and ^^^1.^.'.
has a human face, on the side, with ilie cyci closed,
that has been bruised, and J
large open mouth. This
found in the river bd
sitnd. seven miles from 1
son, Ind, Sevtmi specimci
I nude from noduir.s of
h.ive bevn fomid in Ohio
HUMAK FACED IN ABORIOINAI. ART. 141
IS car\'ed upon the nodule in relief 2^ inches in length and i J.^
indies across the fire head; radiating from the forehead are 33
short parallel lines, probably to represent hair; and running back
from the upper pari are marks intended to represent some kind
of head dress, possibly feathers. The forehead is crossed by three
parallel lines which look like wrinkles. The no.ss is partly gone
and the mouth is distorted." It wan found in Stark Co.. Ohio,
about 80 years ago. Another relic (Fig.
1 1,) from the same county is a rudely
cut image of a human being in black
marble. It was found while digging a
well, 12 feet below the surface, imbcdcd
in sand and gravel. It represents the
figure seated astride
of a stone. The <
while veins of mar- J
ble make the figure!
look rather comical.^
Colonel Whittlesey I
says of this, "The I
mouth and nose are I
so grossly out of I
proportion to the
head and body that
it is probable that
thiseffigy was gotten
up as a burlesque." Another specimen
was ploughed up in Carroll Co., Ohio,
(Fig. 1 2), represents the human face with
rt. ■■. one eye closed and one open. This also
«ecms very grott-sque in its appearance. Ano ther . (Fig- I3)>
«pte»ctiting the human head, is
ofvcd fmm coarse sand stone,
The {lead is full size. It was
"lund nciir the Pennsylvania line
*otnt 40 years ago. while the
Sandy and Keaver canal was be-
lli construclod. It represents i
^ bet with the eyes closed, the
»ouih open, with full chin ; hair
larVfil l)v >trcaks in the stone
»l'Wthe face. This, if it is a
'ikcncssat all. resembles the Eu-
•^pon face much mure than the
•Wrican. The specimen is re-
™ri«iWe because of this rt:sem-
ohiicc.
Thercare other pipes and vases « hich arj as ;
142 THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN.
comical as these: but some of them are intolerably vulgar and
we do not present them on this account. Vulgarity was oftener
expressed by the attitude of the body though there are a few
specimens where the expression of the face and the attitude of
the body are associated ; the two combining to make certain
things supremely ridiculous. An illustration of this is given by
a cut which was published in the report of the Peabody Museum.
Prof. Putnam calls it an idol and says it is of especial interest,
from the rudeness of construction and the manner in which the
head dress is represented. It is a pottery jug from a mound in
Kentucky. It is the image of a woman represented as resting
on her knees, the hands drawn closely across the womb in front;
the face has an expression of pain. The image is a grotesque
one, and yet it quite naturally represents the face especially when
we consider the point which is suggested by the attitude.
Prof Putnam says that the rude attempt in plastic art must not
be considered as a fair example of the capabilities of the people;
for there are several other vessels modeled after the human form,
in the collection from Tennessee, and not one so rude and un-
couth as this. It would seem as if the attempt was to make the
attitude and the expression on the face a caricature ; possibly in
ridicule of a very common circumstance, about which the
native women may have had a certain kind of pride, and
which they might represent in caricature to show their pride and
the sentiment which was common.
Many such specimens have been found among the mounds.
Thcv are worthv of attention, not so much because of their ar-
tistic merit, for the most of them are very rude ; but because they
bring before us the real character of the mound builders. It
would appoar from them that the mound builders were not very
elevated in their sentiments, and certainly not very delicate in
the expression of them. The specimens which indicate this low
and vulgar taste are somewhat numerous ; but as they are not
agreeable objects in an artistic sense and as they furnish no especial
instruction, they are better omitted from the printed page.
II. Wo now turn to another class of relics and would call atten-
tic^i to thv.^ skill of the piohistoric pcc^ple, in bringing out the pe-
culiarities of the human face and form. It would seem as if the
imitative skill of the natives frequently exercised itself in this
way, \Vc do nv>t s^u- that they were especially skillful as sculp-
tors, or that thoy even undert\v^k to portray the beautiful quali-
ties ; but thov were never:heU\<s somewhat successful in imita-
tin^:; and r^n>?x"scnt:ni: the dirtorvnt |virts of the human (ace and
tiv^mv U is a rt^markaKe fact that nvany of the specimens of na-
ti\x^ An>eriv\\a Art aro nnish^.^! in the n>und. They are not per-
Kvt s^jxvimons. an J yc: ih:s is the jvculiarit}- of many of tliem.
Art n\ thv^ oa^^: is sa;v,v\scvi to inviicaie a somewhat advanced
su^x^ of ait whoa iNSiOvts woro nnished in the round; but in the
HUMAN FACES IN ABORIGINAL ART. 143:
west they appear when art is at a low stage. There are, to be
sure, many bas-reliefs in America, and perhaps the best speci-
mens of sculpture are found in these ; yet statues are somewhat
common, showing that both styles of sculpture had come into
vogue. It is worthy of notice that this method of representing
the human figure was common among the mound builder*?; as
common in fact, as among the Mexicans, or the ancient inhabi-
tants of Central America. There are but few specimens of bas-
relief found among the mounds. It would seem that the style of
sculpturing in the round preceded bas-reliefs ; but that as art ad-
\-anced, the native skill transferred itself from one to the other,
and yet carried along both styles. This habit of finishing in the
round was not confined to pottery, but sometimes appeared in
stone sculpture. The human images which were carved out of
stone were not always, and, in fact, not often complete ; as the
legs and lower part of the body were seldom represented, but
only the head and shoulders and arms. Perhaps the dis-
tinction should first be drawn, however, between the different
classes of native artists. We have hitherto while examining cari-
catures, made no distinction between the specimens, but have
grouped them all together ; taking those from Peru and Mexico
and placing them along with those from the Mississippi Valley,
and making no distinction between those which are modern, and
those which are ancient.
One of the first questions which arise, is whether the work of
the modern Indians can be distinguished from that of the mound
builders. On this point there is a difference of opinion and yet
the majority perhaps maintain that they can be distinguished.
We quote here a few sentences from Mr. J. B. Holder, who has
written on the subject in a recent number of the " Naturalist."
"It is not a question of argument but one of things. The
pipes and other objects in hard .stone should be compared not
with pipes in catlimine or soapstone (or clay), but with objects in
the same material. It is an easy matter to place things side by
side, and there will be no question whatever of the superiority of
the mound builder's works over that of ever>' tribe known in his-
toric times, any where near the area occupied. The same is true
of pottery. If we select from any or ever}' collection, the best
evidence of form and finish, and place beside them the best spe-
cimen of modem work of any tribe cast of the Mississippi river,
there is a hopeless falling off. Now it is but fair to infer that
the people who so skillfully wrought in the hardest quartz, who
made pottery in every way equal to that of the Pueblos, were
not in the same grade as the tented savages, whom our ancestors
found upon our own terrritory. We hold that a very important
matter has been overlooked. It is this : the works of the mound
builders of a particular character or grade have not been com-
pared with works of same grade by their successors. If some of
144 THE AMEBICAK ANTIQUARIAN.
the best productions of artistic handicraft, be compared with ob-
jects of a similar nature taken from the mounds, it is more than
doubtful if the superiority of the later day Indians can be sub-
stantiated. Generally wood cuts are published in this connec-
tion, to show the low condition of the mound builder's art. The
cuts'are copies of casts taken from inferior examples ; not one of
the fine examples of mound builders' work in hard stone has been
figured in these examples." This is the opinion of one who has
had an opportimity to examine the specimens in the different
museums ; in Boston, New York, and Washington, and is worthy
of notice. We would say in addition, that the best test is to take
the specimens which come from each of the localities where the
mound builders had their habitat, and then compare those which
were undoubtedly genuine mound builder's relics with those
which belong to the later Indians, formerly dwelling in the
same district. We maintain that the same difference will appear
in the relics that have been noticed in the so-called architectural
works. Mr. Holder says, " the great complicated earth works'of
the mound builders, so faithfully examined and reported by the
old explorers, furnish the most important evidence of their su-
periority to their successors. It is true the Southern Indians
built mounds, but does any one seriously compare the works of
Natchez and the Muskoki tribes with those of the mound builders?
The Iroquois made stockades and enclosures, and Mr. Morgan
argued thence that the works in Ohio were precisely similar in
function but thi opuiion cin not stand."
Wc present here a cut {sec Fig. 14,) to show the difference
in one particular line of sculpture, that of pipes. One of them
has the mound builders' shape ; the bowl in the centre, the stem
at one end and the ornamented part at the other. Another pipe
made from clay is seen in the collection, but it is uncertain
I
HtVAH FACES IN ABORIGINAL ART. 1«-
ivhcther it is a mound builder's pipe or tliat of a modern Indian.
The form is peculiar. It lias a flaring nnoutli piece as well as a
buwi ; it looks as if it was intended to blow through, rather than
to smoke in the usual way. The rough appearance of it would
indicate that it was Modern Indian, and yet according to Squier
-■ind Davis several such pipes have been found in the mounds.
On this point we quote from Mr. E. A, Barber. Hesaysthata
ccnlurj- or so ago, native American pipes had lost most of their
tribal characteristics, and were made of everj- available material
iii in a counlieiis variety of forms to suit the fancy of the indi-
1^ual smokers. It is a singular fact that earthern ware pipes
vtK not made until a comparatively recent period, though cer-
tain tribes, such as the Iroquois, of New York, and Lenni Len-
iipes, of Delaware, moulded their pipes of clay at the time of tlic
discovery.
The material of which a pipe is made cannot be taken as an in-
dication as to its age. Wooden cases which contain mummies
have been exhumed from the tombs in Kgypt bearing the date
of 1,000 years B. C. and if this is the case we may conclude
thai wood might be preserved for a long time, though in the
mounds it would be much more likely to decay than in the tombs
o[Eg}pt. The locality is, perhaps, a better test than the mate-
rial. The pipes which are found in the northwest coast are prob-
ably not the work of mound builders. Those found in the State
of New York are certainly not all ancient. Still the locality is
nut always a sure criterion. The pipes which are found in the
mound builders' habitat, must be studied with some other point
in view. The depth at which a relic is found is not always the
tost. There are relics which have been exhumed from mines
''liich may be very ancient or quite modern; there is no cer-
tainty as to who deposited them. The finish of a carved speci-
men i« a better test and yet this is very uncertain. There
jecms to be a great variety of opinion on the question whether
tfn- ancient races were better sculptors than the modirrn. The
l-^st which we apply with the
mii« arlainty is that which is
furnished by the human like-
nesses. There are many spec-
iiwns of carving which con-
tain so undoubted likenesses
I'f tluropcan faces that we aru
«t no loss in saying that they
I an the work of modern In-
; at Itast that they are
Bt-Columbian in their origin,
I \Vc present here a series of
"i which contain likenesses,
e of them (fig, 15) represents pipe:
from the State of Nei
THE AMERICAN ANTIQUAttlAN.
York; the other (fig. i6)from Lake Superior. These cuts have |
been described by Mr. E. A. Barber. Of the last he says,
■Chippewa Indians in the Lake Superior region cut characteris-J
tic pipes Irom a dark colored pipe-stone which they find in the]
neighborhood. An old Indian who is known by the name
Pwahquneka. is said to be one of the most noted artisans
that section; and
his productions
are generally
conventional-
ized by the in-
troduction of a
rowofminiature
men or animals :
carved on the
upper surfoce
of the stem-
socket or plat-
form. An
ample of recent
Chippewa pipeX.
sculpture has
been introduced in the group of old Indian stone-pipes, here fig-
ured, which will give a general idea of the majority of examples
produced by this tribe. In this specimen, the arti.st has evidently
intended to convey the idea of a boat — t«o figures being repre-
sented in the attitude of rowing, whilst a third is steering at
the helm. The bowl of the pipe represents the head of a Cau-
casian with short hair and stubby mustache."
"Indian pipe-makers have recently displaj-ed much ingenuity
in copying objects of European introduction, such as steel
tomahawks and spear points, stove pipe hats, horses' heads and
the like; and an e-\traordinar\- example found in Misscuri, which
may be seen in the illustrations to which illusion has just been
made, is fashioned in the shape of an inverted glass bottle-stop-
per, ornamented with etchings of hearts and crosses."
The point to which we desiie to call attention is the fact that
the modem Indians were able to ca^^■c out such excellent like-
nesses and that they ha\-e exercised so much skill in imitating
the European methods of sculpture. There are likenesses in
both these cuts of European feces. There are also imitations
of European pipes and in one case, the imitation of the Euro-
pean method of car^TUg human figures throughout in the round
The sunken panel in one pipe is also an imitation of European
sculpture. This skil! in imitating known forms leads us to be-
lieve that the\' n'ere equally skillful in depicting the faces and
fi>rms which are to us unknown. We take, tiien, the native
&CCS which aiK found in these cuts as likenesses aod concltkle
flUHAN FACES IK ABOHIGISAL AST.
UT
il ihcy portray the features of tlie aborigines as they were
nown, and mack- them likenesses. Whether the artists who
welt on the continent before the advent of the white man
_ c equally successful, is a question. Judging, however, from
the iiici that the skill of the early races was, according to all
accciunti, quite equal to that of the modern, we conclude that the
ficcs which we discover on the pipes are likenesses, and that
the)' bring before us the features of the people who are to us
unknown. This is the argument which we use in connection
ivith the carved faces. We maintain that they are portraits.
In reference to the pipes of the Indi.ans, Squier and Davis say
"ihf sculpture of articles which is sometimes attempted by them
in imitation of the human figure is often tasteful, but they never
liiiptay the nice observation and true artistic appreciation and
skill exhibited by those of the mounds, notwithstanding their mak-
trehavc all the advantages resulting from steel implements for
arving, and from the suggestions afforded by European art."
11!. We turn now to the third head and ask the question
whctiicr the sculptured faces are genuine portraits. This is an
important point for if it is true that we have the actual features of
I ht: prehistoric race preserved, we shall by the means be able to
determine the different migrating lines and ethnic aflinitics of the
racts and perhaps solve other problems. One singular fact is
brought before us by the specimens of art. the faces differ very
much. This would indicate that the American races were not
all exactly alike. There may have been perhaps a general affin-
it)' and all may have belonged to the same stock, but judgmg
from the likenesses we should say that there were different races
as Well as tribes. The dividing lines are, however, geographical
rallier than chronological. The contrasts between the faces are
seen, nuinly, as we travel from one district to another; rather than
jswc (jather relics from the same district. Where there has
bwn . I chronological succession of the different branches of the
«mc race, we find it somewhat difficult to draw the lines between
tile portraits carved on the prehistoric relics ; but where races are
widi-ly separated and are acknowledged to be different in their
origin and characteristics, we find the contrasts between tlie por-
tnits vcr^' marked. The relics confirm tradition ; Archaeology
ant! Ethnology correspond, and parallel lines of study are in har-
■lOity. ]f we take the relics which are gathered from the Mi.ssi-
, i valley, we may trace a genera! resemblance between
e features of the Modern Indians and those of the Mound
hulders; and will come to the conclusion that here there has
n a succession of races and that all belong to the same gener-
■eorslock and are closely related. But if, on the other hand.
I examine the relics and monuments of the different parts of
VtnU America especially in Yucatan, we find the faces por-
i on them differing very essentially from these and we con-
1«S
THE AMBBICAN ANTIQUARIAS.
elude that they arc the portraits of an entirely distinct race,
Mayas and the Mound Builders having had scarcely any affinity^
Again, if we examine the relics and sculpture of the regions
formerly occupied by the Aztecs and Toltecs and we shall find
verj' great resemblance between the features of these diffei
races as they are portrayed upon the monuments. But if we _
from Mexico and its provinces into Central America where the!
different parts of the Maya race are, we find that the contrast is]
as great as that between the Mound Builders and this people;!^
and the difference between the N.ihuas and Mayas is plainl/J
brought out.
We now propose to iUustrate this point. We shall first pre^
sent portraiu from the region of the Mound Builders and call at-
tention to their characteristics. We shall next furnish portraits
of the Mayas and refer to the leatures which are everywhere seen.
^^'c shall, in ihc third place bring together a few portraits from
the scattered pro\'inces where the Aztecs and Toltecs were known
to have dwelt and call attention to the characteristics of this once
powerful race. We think tliat our readers will be led to the con-
clusion that the sculptures furnish <he portraits of three distinct
races. The nKinuments and the traditions correspond- The
portraits confirm the histon-. If the sculptured faces are portraits
we must consider them as good tests for determining their affini-
ties. We propose to make the inquin- and put the sculptured
relics under scrutiny with the view of ascertaining whether there
U'Cre not three distinct races on the continent.
1, We shall enquire about the Mound Builders and put
relics fumishet.1 by this people to the test.
We select specimens from one particular district of the MoQi
Builders, namely that of Ohio, as more portraits ha\'e been found
in this region than any other; and j-ct we believe that if our
readers would compare these portraits sith those which may be
eUbcrcd from the other parts of the Mississippi \-alle}' tbey
find a general resemblance. The peculiarit>' of these portraits
tint thc\' all have an Indian look i^ut them. They diScr '
one MKilher and }-et this is die characteristic of alL
The portraits from the mounds, to be sure, have more
characteristics and indicate that the peofile who built the
wete ta tiUB>- respects superior to those Indians which have
f to eHl y occupied the same tenitoiy. Still, we acl
ibMt tfaey Jdl had the same ethnic peculiarities, and ifth^
fi«Hl eae another. ><ct they must have bdoi^ed to the same
thMfl
ano^l
sof cols to BvstnKc llus point These
Wc ptcwnt a s
ir«c« originally taken from the KKiC «
MoHMncats. It will be aoboea Aat die sane gcneial cast of
feitwcs an; gives In- Aese portnob; and >Tt if our readers will
examine die cuts wlwdi af« fc— d a ^ same vork and which
130 THE AMEniC.i.N ANTIlltAHIAS.
particular style of platting the hair, rises into protuberances
knots (horns). Encircling th; forehead and comingdowa as 1^
as the carj is a ro.v of rojnd holes, fifteen in number, whij
when the h;a:l was found, were filled in part with pearls com
pletelj calcin;d : the Iiolei Wiire doubtlesi all originally filled i
the same manner," The string of pearls and the head dress alioiij
that the Mound Builders had great taste in ornamenting the hea<
and thai the sense of beauty was well developed in tliem.
Of the ii:;xt figure, (Fig. 18) the authors say, "this is the m(^
beautiful head of the scries, and is cvidenHy that of a female.
is car\cd from ;
pact stone which is
much altered and in
some cases the color
entirely chan;^cd by the
action of fire. The
muscles of the face are
well exhibited and the
forehead finely mould-
ed. Tiie eyes arc prom-
inent and open and the
iips full and
'■The
ship ofthi;
surpassed by
excepting thi
altar, each one presents a different fdce ; in fact so different t
we can hardly recognize the tribal fealurirs in them. Fig, tia
is composed of a compost yellow sand stone, lu features j
nVHAK 7ACE3 TS ABOItlQINAt. ART.
I^jnr regiiliir thsn either of th;; prt^ceding fxanijik-s. The nose
s up niightly at tht; point and the lips arc prominent. It has
Been suggfsti;(l from the dfiicacy of tlic features that this wjs
lestgncd to represent a female, and at least three types arc rep-
ipscnied in them. This is singular, for alt were found in the
c mound. It proves however that the Mound Builders were
vided into tribes, and that these tribes were frequently associ-
d logcllicr very much as the ludians of the later tribre. In
t some have said that these particular mounds were built by
: Indians and it is a question whether they do not represent
Bosc very same tribes which arc known to history.
I In reference to this question of portraits we are not confined
D the pipes of Mound Builders, or of the later Indians. There
c many specimens of art found in other parts of America which
ml human faces and to these wc would call attention as well
worthy of study.
J 2. Wti then turn by way of contrast, to the Maya portraits.
BTlicsc arc taken from Stephens' work on the Antiquities of
T Yucatan and Central America. " They represent the figures
which are contained in
the bas-relief at Palen-
quc. It should be said
that aH of the statues and
ba.s-reliefs at this place
furnish the same cast of
countenance, the promi-
nent nose and retreating
forehead being charac-
teristic of all. There are
many portraits in these
tablets and all of them
are of the same type.
Stephens has furnished
eighteen plates, illustrat-
ing the different figures
which he discovered in
the palaces at Palenque.
and in the plates there
are at least twenty-eight
different figures, all of
them having the same
forehead, nose and lips,
as those which are here
presented ( Figs. 20 & 2 1 .)
1 Ic has also described the
stone columns or idol
■<jiiilars which he discovered at Copan. These have figures
i which differ very materially from those at Palenque.
383 THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN.
The explanation of this is not given. In reference to the portraits
at Copan. at Chichen Itza and at Palenque a variety of opinion
has been expressed. Waldeck sees in some of the fig-
ures f.:atures of the Caucasian type. Bancroft, on the
other hand, has discovered an Ethiopian head at Vera
Cruz and quotes from Senor Melzar who supposes that the
Negro race lived in America before the coming of the Span-
iards. A portrait is also presented by Bancroft from Waldeck's
drawings which has the Anglo Saxon cast. This was found at
Copan, and is very striking in its appearance. The Egyptian type
ha.s also been recognized in the monuments. It would ^eem,
then, that there was considerable confusion in the minds of the
different authors as to what race these portraits belong. The
opinion of Stephens is, however, the most correct; he says,"I invite
to this subject the special attention of those familiar with the arts
of other countries ; for unless I am wrong we have a conclusion
far more interesting and wonderful than that of connecting the
builders cf these cities with the Egyptians or any other people.
It is the .spectacle of a people skilled in architecture, sculpture
and drawing, and possessing the cultivation and refinement at-
tendant upon these, but originating and growing up here without
models or masters ; having a di.stinct separate, independent cxist-
ance, like the plants and fruits of the soil, indigenous." " There is
no resemblance in these remains to those of the Egyptians, and
failing here we look elsewhere in vain." In reference to the faces
found at Palenque and presented in the cut, (Fig. 21), Stephens
say.s : " the upper part of the head seems to have been compressed
and lengthened perhaps by the same process employed upon the
HUMAN FACES IN AHOmaiNAL ATtT. 153
heads of the Choctaw and Flathead Indians of our own country.
The head represents a different species from any now existinji in
that country and supposing the statues to be images of living
personages or the creation of artists accordinj^ to their ideas of
perfect figures, they indicate a race of people now lost and un-
known. " In speaking of the portraits which arc presented in the
following cut.(Fig. 20), he says: they are adornL'd with ricli head
, -dresses, and necklaces, buttheir attitude is that of pain and trou-
"Ibta TItc design and anatomical proportions of the figure are
'^'^'^buttbete is a force of expression about them which shows '
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^Hi
^H
.' ^H
Hi
1
^^1fl
IL ^ ..l^^^^^ffnfPBHS^B^HiH
^^^^BS^^^^sH
^51
t
I
the skill and conceptive power of the artist. In reference to the
Eoint whether tlie.se are representatives of the Maya race, we
avc to say : that they are found on the territory where the Ma-
yas had their habitat and seem to have been desifjned to repre-
sent the race features. There arc, however, several objections to
this view; first, faces are, as we have seen, found in the same re-
gion which are entirely different and these may be Dortraits of the
Mayas rather than those found on the tablets. These faces are
engraved upon idols, moulded into pottery, sometimes painted on
the ancient manuscripts and contained in the architectural monu-
154
TBE AMERICAN ANTIQD ARIAS.
mcnts, and perhaps are as likely to be portraits as those which
we have described. Again, the faces which are figured in bas-re-
lief are mainly found in the temples and may have been intendt;d
not so much as portraits as symbols; the attitudes of the divini-
ties bemg symbolized by them. Again the faces are in profile
and are conventional in their character, and generally have simi-
lar head dresses and ornamentations. Another objection is that the
carved columns found at Copan furnish a very different type from
these in bas-reiief,and the columns are quite as likely to have been
designed as portraits as the tablets. The statues at Palenque
have the full face resembling those at Copan. while the hiero-
glyphics have profiles resembling those in the tablets. There
seem to be many objections to the position taken that the Maya
type is to be recognized in these lace; which have such retreat-
ing foreheads. Vet, the fact that they are so numerous would
indicate that there was a class of people among Mayas which
were characterized by this trait. It may be that portraits aie de-
signed to represent either the priests or the ruling class ; and that
artificial depression was practiced among them. Perhaps, then, we
have an explanation of the difference between the different faces,
the carved columns coitaining the portraits of the Mayas in their
normal condition ; but the tablets contain the portraits of the
deformed ruling or priestly cast. It may be that on this very ter-
ritory of the Mayas we have two distinct races, the one portrayed
by the carved columns and the other by the tablets. Which was
the earlier and which the latter must remain undecided
3, We next turn to the Aztecs It is a remarkable fact that
in Mexico, the home of thi. Aztecs we have many human faces
mn».w PACES !N ABomai;f AL art.
1S5
put thty ni:.ir:y nllOifltr from those found ainong the Mayas. These
pre round on the sacririctal stones and on ide iiltars and ^ccm to have
llsacriKl charait-Tsom-uliat resembling those found on the tab-
|ei» at I'ak-nqiic. Th:.-y ar^ gt;nerally in profile and have ht-ad
~ress» and ora.ini^inis which arc evidently intended to he syin-
olic. The compjri>o:i uf t\\a hca will) those before given will
navincc US that the sculptors copied after a different type
i the query is whether the one do^rs not represent llij Nahuas
1 llic Dth^r the Mayas. \Vc furnish a cm (KiiJ, 33), to illus-
rate this poinL It nrprcscnts sculptured figures on the sacrifi-
I stone at Mex.co. Of this. Mr. Bancroft says, "the whole cir-
aimfcrcncc of the stone is covered with sculptured figures con-
'itiug of fifte<:n groups; e.ich K^oup contains two human figures,
rciitly warr.ors or kings ; victor and vanquished differing but
Bnlein their hiero;;lyphtc3i[jns which may express their names or
Bthosc of lhi.\r naliois." According to Gama, these sculptured
I '^urcs represent by llic thirty dances, the festivities celebrated
' twice eadi year. anJ also commemorate the battles and victories
ofthc Aztecs; thtf hieroglyp^'i'^s being the names of conquered
provinces.* There are images and idols in Mexico which pre-
wnt the faces with a front view ; these differ from the faces in pro-
file, and they have a character somewhat similar. We nowhere
in Mexico find the negro -looking faces such as are found at ?a-
tenqnc. \Vc do net sec the deformed head or the face with the
retreating forehead. Whether ths Aztec type of countenance is
presrntcd by these or not, we are sure that the ideal head in Mex-
ico was very difiTcrent from that in Yucatan. There may have
been .imong the Mayas a type of beauty and a fashion which con-
«i<lc(l in producing a head with the deformity of a retreating fore-
head. This, by some might be regarded as Aztec ; but accord-
ing lo the moiiumcnls we find it nowhere among the Aztecs or
the Nahuas; hut we do find it on the Maya territory. We know
ll>al ^Jahuas were different in their origin from the Mayas, as they
at supposed to have come from the Northwest while the Mayas,
from the S-'>uth. The question is whether we have the portraits
of the two races in the monuments.
Wc have now given the specimens of art from the three differ-
tni distincis. I ha\c .shown in these specimens that there arc
types of faces which may well be considered the portraits ofthree
distinct races. I'robably our readers will be able to recognize in
the*: portaits a famt resemblance as if a common stock was con-
tfcn^din them, yet the diff-Tcnccs on contrasts are much more
aecdL-d than the resemblances. The conclusion which we draw,
wihat if the Mound Builders, the Mexicans and the inh.ibitants
"f Central .Atnerica are really represented by them that they are
all quite difTrrent in th.:ir appearance and as well .ts in their cul-
titt. and probably belonged to different branches of the same
Sml race.
IM THE AWBRICAS ANTIQUATHAN. ^^^^^|
EXPLORATION OF APPARENT RECENT MOUNDS I^^|
DACOTA H. ^M
l<,«,l Uffo-x Ikt A. A. A. S.,at Ann Arber ilt^tii^. ^^|
VVIiJit are jjcncrally known as " Indian Mounds" arc not »id^H
common in Dacotah. especially in th.; vicinity ot the Travert^^H
1
iinu nig Stone lake^^. Ths msst intcrostin'^ triDunJs, howcvd^^^H
art: in Brown county, in the valley oTtti; Jam::s riv^r. I lutl^^H
{jooti opportunity to eximinr tli^s:: ni>'J:idi b:rorj t'l;/ ht^^H
bjjn (ijfi^^d inany way by civilization, aid \t\\ a:t:st:1 i^^f
making the following plot by thj surveyors who ran out iB^^I
township and section lines. ^^H
1
«
Bheibbhh
8
■
IIBSiBiB
1
HIHBI^HHv'^HIlBH^H^B
Wa
■■|MH|HM|MLl
SBHI
fm
ii^'
^
BBlMB?
a
m
■
HHHH
^ipillB
I
■
1
■HB
H8iHH^
■
1
B
B8U8H
BBHBHH
■
■
B
b
^.^^^J
EXPLORATION OF APPARENT RECENT MOUNDS. 157
The mounds as shown in the illustration are 29 in number
and from ^ to 10 feet in height. The largest mound was about
50 feet long and 30 wide at the base, and 10 feet high. The
smallest about half this size. They are all oval in shape. They
very much resemble in appearance the ancient mounds in Illi-
nois, Indiana and Missouri. But that which is of much interest
is that some of them are connected by paths made from the
bones of the buffalo. In the group shown near Willow creek,
on the Elm river, three mounds are thus connected by a path of
bones. The distance along the path from the first mound to
the larger one in the center was about 500 paces. With a tape
line we measured off fifty feet in the pathway and counted the
bones in this space. There were (492) four hundred and ninety-
I two. The bones are almost all the
I leg bones of the buffalo, each bone
I being broken apart in the middle, evi-
I dently to obtain the marrow.
1 The bones in the pathwaj- were
I only partially buded in the ground,
I and the glistening white line could be
1 distinctly seen for two or three miles
before we reached the elevation on
the side of which the mounds were.
Excepting those in the path, but few
other bones were to be seen over the
barren dry prairie.
Farther down the Elm river, a few
miles from the newly built village of
Ordway is another, and lar'jer group
of mounds also occupying a slight
elevation overlooking the shallow val-
ley of the Little river. As seen by the
Itustration there are four mounds here
connected by a path of bones.
In forming the path the bones have
been simply laid down side by side
and the path was little wider than the
leg bones of the buffalo.
After finishing our sketches we
spent two days exploring in these
mounds. The material of which they
are made is the black earth from the
surface of the surrounding prairie,
mixed however, with pebbles and
glacial gravel. The digging was very
difHcult on account of the compact
ireoftAe soil, which was dry as dust. We made excava-
I in four. The result in all was simitar. At the base of the
158 THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN.
mounds near the centre was found a mass of human bones,
both male and female.
The bones were in a state of good preservation and lay so close
together and somewhat in confusion that I was inclined to be-
lieve they might have been denuded of flesh before burial. Of
this I could not be certain.
I obtained a number of entire skulls ; they had the dark color
of the earth and did not have the appearance of great age.
The skulls were of the Brachycephalic order, those of the
men being strong and heavy and of decided Indian character-
istics.
With the skulls here figured were found a number of the
teeth of buffalo, and one very old tooth which I was careful to
preserve, thinking it might prove to be that of a horse. Prof
Cope, however, thought it to be a buffalo tooth.
There was no sign of iron or any metal only implements of
stone. One of these was a small stone axe or celt of diorite about
4 inches in length. There was also a rude arrow point of a red-
ish jasper. Whether the path of bones was the work of recent
Indians we could not tell, but evidently the bones had not been
in their position many years. Notwithstanding the mounds had
an appearance of age I believe them to be of modem origin. No
Indians have lived in the vicinity for many years.
Wm. McAdams.
THE BEGINNINGS OF WRITING IN AND AROUND
TIBET.
Under this title Professor Terrien de Lacouperie, who occupies
the chair of Indo-Chinese Philology in University College, Lon-
don, has published i(i the Jour. Royal Asiatic Society, Vol. XVII,
Part III, an elaborate and valuable discussion on the history of
writing not only in the vicinity of Tibet but in eastern Asia gen-
erally. From the facts there collected we are able to observe the
present or recent existence of the ruder stages which are sup-
posed to have marked the development of this art the world over.
Among the earliest substitutes for written messages are mate-
rial objects carried singly or in groups and naturally suggesting
the intention of the sender. Thus, the Lu-tze, a rude tribe on
the Tibeto-Chinese frontier, send as a war challenge a piece of
chicken liver, three pieces of chicken fat, and a chili, wrapped in
red paper. The Li-su, a neighboring tribe, combine with such
objects notched sticks to indicate the number of people on the
war-path. According to Chinese annals, the Tibetans in earlv
times summoned the people to war by messengers carryinfiti
en arrows. The Kakhyens of Upper Burma strinf?
#«#
THE BEGINNING OF WRITING IN TIBET. 159-
the paths leading to their villages, on which are placed small
stars of split rattan, and other objects which seem to form a sort
of rude hieroglyphics. We are told that the Tang-hiang of north-
western Tibet used, as late as the sixth century, arranged reeds
and pieces of wood to mark periods of time ; and that the Ju-Juan
people of Tartary used goat's dung for a similar purpose as late
as the-fifth century. So the aborigines of Formosa mark the
passage of days by stones or knots in grass. The system of
records known as quippiis, or knotted cords, which was carried to
such perfection in Peru, was once used in Tibet, if we can believe
Chinese historians; though we are not informed as to the manner
of their use. The same custom was probably in vogue among
the aboriginal tribes of China but was not practiced by the ancient
Bale tribes, or early Chinese settlers of the country, who, as Pro-
fessor de Lacoupere supposes, were already acquainted with a
more advanced system of writing when they entered China. Even
now the illiterate Santals of Central India, according to Mr. Man,
use knotted grass-strings in keeping their accounts. Marco Polo
relates that the people of Western Yunnan, when they make a
contract, split a piece of wood, each party to the contract taking
half. When the business is concluded, the creditor hands his own
piece over to the debtor, who keeps it as a receipt. Dr. Anderson
relates that the Kakhyens keep records by making fractures at
various distances in a strip of bamboo. The use of notched sticks
as tallies seems to have been general in central and eastern Asia.
The writer believes that the Kwas, or sets of lines which are placed
at the head of chapters of the Yh-king. and which have hitherto
baffled the ingenuity of scholars to decipher, are nothing less
than a survival, in writing, of notches on wood. This substitute
for writing was once widely prevalent in the Occident, as well,
and is still in use by tradesmen in some parts of Europe. Boys
use it in their plays, as they do so many other customs which
belonged to the serious occupations of their ancestors.
Not only are rude tribes often incapable of inventing alphabetic
signs for themselveb, but they are sometimes unable to compre-
hend those which intercourse with more civilized peoples has
brought within their reach. If they adopt them, it is often to
*stort and misapply them. Thus, the Lo-lo of the province
of Szetchuen have alphabetic characters, which seem to be de-
rived from India, but which are no longer understood in their
original sense. The separate characters have ceased to be used
phonetically, but are united in groups, after the manner of the
Chinese, and treated as ideograms. Another instance of retro-
gressive writing, as Professor de Lacouperie understands it, is
ftatofthe Chinese. As the result of long investigation, he has
readied the conclusion that Chinese writing was imported from
^ West, and, though now written in columns, is derived from
• QfWhidi was written horizontally, and which itself had an
160 THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN.
earlier hireoglyphic source. The rude characters, suggesting pic-
ture-writing, which are found on vases and have been supposed
to represent the earliest Chinese writing, the Professor does not
regard as ancient at all, but as bungling forgeries of comparative-
ly modern times. The theory of a western origin finds some
support from Chinese tradition, which represents that the
primitive writing was cut into soft material ; that some strokes
were thick at one end and thin at the other ; that they were de-
signed from the prints of birds* claws on clay; or were like
tongues of fire or drops of rain freezing as they fall. There are
suggestions in this of the wedge-shaped characters of western
Asia. Wo learn further that " the oldest phonetic order in the
Chinese phonetic groups is from left to right, and also, curiously
enough, from bottom to top. the latter resulting, at first, from
the turning up of groups originally written horizontally." The
early Chinese immigrants brought a language which had a strong
tendenc\- to agglutination, but they found the country occupied
by tribes s|>oaking languages of a simpler type, and it was by
an inteniiingling of these diverse elements that the present Chi-
nese language and its dialects were evolved. Such appears to
be the view of the author of the paper.
The Mo-so are a large aboriginal tribe of north-western Yun-
nan, who once had an extensiw and powerful empire in western
China, but haw long been under Celestial rule. It has been sup-
|x>sod ttivU until their absorption by the Chinese they were with-
out a knowleiige of writing: but a few years since a distinguished
mi<s!onar\\ Pere Oegodins. discovered among the Mo-so some
pages of manuscript containing what seemed to be writing in
hierogI\*phics. In communicatinij this information he savs:
** These hicrv^ijl\i^hics are not, proiu'rlv soeakinjr, a writing, still
le:ss the current writing of the tribe. The sorcerers or Tong-bas
alone use :t w hen invited bv the rxv.-^'.e to recite these so-called
prayers, accomp^inievi with ceren*onres and sacrifices, and also to
put some spells on somebody, a specialty of their own. They
alone kn.>w how tv^ read the::i and understand their meaning;
they are a!one ac\4uainted with the \"a:ueofthes*^ signs, combined
w:th the numbers of the dice and either implements of di\ination
which they use in their witchrraft. Theretore these hierogl\-phics
orv nothing else than si-:nis more v^r Ie<s svmbolkal and arbitrar\\
knvn\n to a small number of the initated, who transmit their
knowledge t.^ the r eldest son and successor in their profession
of sorcerers. Such ts the evact value of the Mo-so manuscripts;
thev arc :^x a currvnt and vX>mnK>n wr^ttniT: thcv ate hardlv a
sacred writtn,: »n the Iin:i:ts tnd:catt\l jK>6\"e.'' Plrofessor de La-
o>uivr-e. to ^%h>^:n this wrltm-;; was submttteA retnarks that it is
on * ort.^ttraLOus nrxttrre v>< inr-jen^-t ortd bad iaueafcicMis of ancient
seal char::cters of China, rectorial n-cu^^es of -^twng^^ and men,
bodies oad their pairts^ with several Tdbctaa and Indan charac-
THE BEGINNING OP WRITING IN TIBET. 161
ters and Buddhist emblems." He adds, however, that it may be
the survival of a system of pictorial writing which sprang up here,
but whose development was arre.sted by the intrusion of a more
advanced system, so that now, with its admixture of foreign and
later material, it only serves the purpose of the necromancer. We
have already alluded to the figures in use among the Kakhyens
of Burma.
Tibetan historians inform us that writing was first introduced
into their land in the reign of King Srong-btsan-sgam-po in the
7th century A. D.; but they do not tell us definitely what was in
use as a substitute before his time. As the story is told, the king
soon after ascending the throne sent a deputation of seven nobles
to India to bring back a system of writing for the Tibetan lan-
guage ; but these failing to find a road thither, he later (632 A. D.)
despatched a second company, consisting of 17 persons, who
successfully accomplished their mission, bringing back Buddhist
manuscripts and some form of the Sanskrit alphabet. From the
latter they adapted the characters now in use to represent Tibetan
sounds, a few of which are foreign to the Indian system. These
letters are in two principal st>'les : the so-called ** letters with
heads," which are commonly used in printing ; and those with
less angular forms and better adapted to cursive and ordinary use.
John A very.
163 THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN.
Correspondence.
MOUND EXCAVATION IN TENNESSEE.
^Editor American Antiquarian:
According to promise I send you a brief notice of some explora-
tions recently made by Mr. John W. Emmett (with whom you
are acquainted), in East Tennessee. He has just sent in, with the
articles collected, a short, preliminary account of . his work from
which I extract the following notice of one mound.
This is situated on the south bank of Little Tennessee River not
very far from the site of Old Fort Loucjon. The group to which
it belongs in all probability. marks the site of one of the Cherokee
*' Over-hill Towns."
Mr. Emmert says "I found this 'Big Toco Mound' as it is
"called, measured at the base, one hundred and forty-four feet east
" and west, and one hundred and thirty-eight north and south. The
top, one hundred and four feet long and eighty-eighty wide, was
flat but considerably sloped, the height at the west end being
twenty-four feet, but at the east end only eighteen. There is a
■" considerable depression in the surface of the ground adjoining the
" north, south and west sides, probably made by taking from thence
*' the dirt with which to build the mound, as a large portion of the
earth of which it is composed is similar to the surface soil around
it. Although the upper half is composed chiefly of this black
" earth, there were in it a number of streaks or thin layers of yel-
"*' low sand, of red burnt clay, and also of charcoal and ashes. I
*' found these layers from within .two feet of the top down to the
" depth of nine feet, where we struck a very hard yellow earth
" which continued down to the original surface of the ground. No
" one of these layers covered a very extended space, nor could I
** notice that any regularity prevailed in regard to form or relation
" to each other. Many of the skeletons had a hard crust of burnt
*' clay on top of them, though the earth immediately around them
" was vcrv loose, and the lavers of burnt clav were usuallv bro-
*' ken up."
" A little north of the centre there was a large fire-bed, or rather
series of fire-beds, or hearths of burnt clay, with intervening lay-
ers of ashes. I struck this scries at the depth of two feet from
the top, and found it extended downward about six feet, the layers
increasing in extent laterally as I went down. No skeletons
"were found in contact with this series of beds. In several of the
■*' lavers I found the remains of wooden stakes which had been
4(
it
MOUND EXCAVATION IN TENNESiBEE. 103
*'(lrivcn into the surface of the beds. The portion which was
**then above the surface, had been burnt nearly or quite to coals,
"and the lower ends, which had not been burnt in sonu cases,
"completely rotted, leaving only the holes and slight fragnunts,
"while in other cases thev were more distinct. Some of these
"were within three feet of the surface, others at the depth of six
"feet. Wherever I found the remains of one of these stakes still
"in position, I always found a bed of coals and ashes, and in some
"instances, pieces of burnt human bones."
Mr. Emmett is probably not aware of the strong bearing this dis-
covery has on a statement made by Mr. Ramsey, in his " Annals
of Tennessee," which appears to have been overlooked by our wri-
ters on American archaeology. Speaking of a Mrs. Bean taken
captive by the Cherokees at Watauga, in 1776, he says she was
arried to their sacred town, (which was near Fort Loudon,) was
bound and taken to the top of a mound to be burned^ but was saved
by Nancy Ward, then exercising the functions of the "Pretty
Woman " of the tribe.
"Fifty-six skeletons," says Mr. Emmett, " were found disposed
"respectively as shown in the drawing herewith sent. The depth at
"which they were placed, varied from four to seven feet, except
** skeleton No. 29, \yhich was buried nearly perpendicularly with
"the head downward, the skull resting on the hard yellow earth,
"at the depth of nine feet."
"Most of the celts, (which are all polished, and similar in appegr-
"ance to those discovered in the North Carolina mounds) were
"found near the heads of the skeletons, as were the pots and other
"clay vessels. In most cases the shell beads were about the neck
"though there was one exception to this rule. I would call par-
"ticular attention to the ornamented or engraved shells, of which
*'Ihave taken the best care I could, though they are very tender."
"The most interesting skeleton to me was the one numbered 49.
"As will be seen by reference to the diagram herewith sent,
(which cannot be given here, as it has not yet been prepared for
the engraver," ) this was nearly in the center of the mound, lying
"with the head southwest, and eight other skeletons lying close
"around it, all with their heads turned toward it. With one of the
"surroundmg skeletons I found a celt, a discoidal stone, two bone
"implements, a soapstone pipe, an engraved shell, and a bear's
"tooth, all lying about the head. With the central skeleton were
"the following articles; three very fine polished celts, a drilled
"stone, an owl-shaped water jug, a large spear head, a soapstone
**pipe, a pot, three engraved shells, 29 bone implements, some pie-
"cesof mica, 36 arrow points, and a number of unusually large shell
"beads. The bone implements, mica, and a number of flint nod-
**ule8, were about the right hand which lay near the hip. All the
"other things except the shell beads were lying about the head
"and neck. The beads were on, under, and about the hip bones,
"apparently in two rows, as though they had been attached to
"something that encircled that part of the body."
164 THJJ AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN.
The specimens obtained by Mr. Emmett, of which only a part
are mentioned in the preceding brief report, have all been received
at the Bureau office, and with them a list and diagrams, showing
the point in the mound where each was found. Among them is
an unusually large shell, {^Busyeon perversufn)\ though much de-
cayed, enough remains to show that the length was between six-
teen and seventeen inches; several unusually large shell masks,
similar to those represeneed on page 450, third Annual Report Bu-
reau of Ethnology. But the most interesting articles are the en-
graved shells, one of them precisely of the type shown on page
452, third Bureau Annual. Two others belonging to the same
general type, with Mexican designs, but different in details and
figures from any hitherto observed.
These shells, of which several specimens have now been discov-
ered, bearing as they do beyond question, Mexican designs, pre-
sent a very difficult problem for solution. There can be scarcely
a doubt that the mound described was built bv the Cherokecs;
this is shown by the pipes, of which quite a number were obtained,
some of them of comparatively modern type. Moreover, this con-
clusion can be well nigh established by history. This being ad-
mitted, as I am satisfied it will be, when all the facts and evidence
bearing on it are made known, how are we to account for the
presence of these Mexican designs in this region?
Cyrus Thomas.
Washington, D. C, Jan 2, 'S6.
THE LEGEND OF CHICAMECA'S HEAD.
To the Editor American Anttquarian :
About six miles south west of Louisville, Mississippi, upon the
crest of a high hill in the midst of a primeval forest, stands an up-
right stone, about three feet high, cropping out of the earth, which
bcius a rude resemblance to a gigantic human bust — head, neck,
and shoulders. This stone had early attracted the attention of the
Choctaws, who called it " Chicameca's Head," and the following
legend was related bv them in rejjard to it:
At some period in the far distant past, the Choctaws lived in a
western country, where they were tributary to a powerful people
called the Chicamecas. From some cause, they resolved to leave
this country and seek a new home toward the rising sun. After
crossing the Mississippi, they heard, to their dismay, that a large
army of Chicamecas, under their chief Chicameca, was in hot pur-
suit, resolved to force them to return to the land of bondage.
Chicameca finally overtook the fugitives, and gave them the al-
ternative of obedience to his demands, or else utter extermination.
The Choctaws chose the latter, and prepared to fight to the last.
Chicameca then urged his warriors to the onset. He had just
given the loud war-whoop, when suddenly the earth opened be-
RELICS IN EASTERN OREGON. 165
neath his feet, and the mighty chief Chicameca sunk out of sight
in the yawning chasm. His army saw the sight and fled in wild
dismay, leaving the fugitive Choctaws to pursue their way in
peace.
The beating rains of many centuries falling upon that hill at last
unearthed or unveiled the petrified bust of the renowned chief Chi-
cameca, with his stern face lowering towards the south; and there,
if not destroyed by vandalism, the stone image of the prehistoric
warrior will remain for ages to come.
Such is the legend of " Chicameca's Head," iis was related to
the writer some years ago by W. T. Lewis, Esq., of Winston
County, who in early life heard it from the lips of an aged Choc-
taw.
H. S. Halbert.
Philadelphia, Mississippi.
•o-
RELICS IN EASTERN OREGON. .
When we cross the Cascade Mountains and go into East-
ern Oregon, many of the specimens of the ancient Indian
work differ very largely from those in this Willamette valley
and Puget Sound. Mrs. J. H. Kunzie of the Umatilla Landing,
has a very excellent cabinet of such specimens, most of which
were collected noar their residence at the mouth of the Umatilla
river. The beads are of antelope teeth, shells of several kinds,
some of them being of dentalia, though not many, stone, and glass.
I have seen nothing similar to any of those wCvSt of the Cascade
mountains, except those of the dentalia shell. The glass beads are
unlike those of American or English manufacture, being far less
clear. I think they were made in some way by the Indians. The
largest stone beads are two and a quarter inches long and weigh
about two ounces, while some arc much smaller. They are oblong
square, and round.
Some of the stone pipes are straight with carvings on thero.
The largest is four inches long and w^eighs nearly half a pound.
A smaller one is six inches long and weighs six ounces. I have
not seen a straight one found west of the Cascade range. A cal-
endar stone, with marks on one side showing, the number of
months in the year, and on another side the number of days in the
month, is three feet long and weighs thirty pounds. Its like I
have not seen on this coast. A metate of stone weighs fifty
pounds, is nineteen inches long and thirteen wide. She has a third
baboon similar to those in Portland and East Portland, which has
heen traced to the region of Eastern Oregon. This one is seven-
teen inches around, five and a half high and weighs seven pounds.
An idol or totem post of black stone, which however, did not come
from this region, weighs eleven pounds and is twenty-one inches
long, most of the pieces of an idol or image of shell, well-carved,
166 THE AMERICAN ATIQUARIAK.
have also been found in this locality. A large number of arrow
heads are in this cabinet, which have been found at this place.
Some of them are very small and delicate, and beautiful, seemingly
about as much so as it is possible to make. Here was plainly a
manufactory of these articles, as the chips lie around in great num-
bers, but the stones of which they were made were brought from
far away, as they do not belong to this region. Lance and spear
heads, sinkers, pestles, mortars and the like are also found in this
cabinet. It is a very valuable collection, from the scarcity of some
of the articles, and the difference between them and those west of
the Cascade mountains. The stone of which some of the articles
are made is not found on the banks of the Columbia in a thousand
miles travel, and is not known to our geology west of the Blue
mountains. Tradition says some articles came from the Crows,
and it is probable, as these Indians formerly w*nt to the Crow
country to hunt buffalo. Most of these articles are very old, the
present Indians not being able to give information about them, and
caring nothing for the graves where they are found.
M. Eels.
Shokomish, Wash. Ten
MOUND RELICS OF OREGON.
Editor American Antiquarian:
Many wonderful things of Indian workmanship and origin are
found on the Pacific coast, but nothing more wonderful than the
mounds which are found on the California Creek, Linn County,
Oregon. These mounds are perfectly round in shape, from three to
eight feet in height, and from 50 to 150 feet in diameter. I have
opened a large number of them but will confine myself as request-
ed, to the relics in my collection, which belonged to these mound
builders. There arc two classes of relics, bone and stone. The
stone relics consist of mortars, pestles, knives, drills, scrapers, ar-
row and spear heads, and beads. The mortars are of various sizes
and shapes, the largest one in my collection will hold about four
pints, half gallon. The stone of which they are made is a kind of
gravel, very hard, of a blue color. They are very scarce.
The pestles are of all sizes from ?i\Q to thirteen inches long,
some of them being very nicely polished. They are made of the
same kind of stone as the mortars.
The knives and drills are from one to two and a half inches long.
They are generally made of flint or jasper.
The arrow heads are very fine, they are from a quarter to three-
quarters of an inch long and are made mostly of obsidian but some
times of carnelian, chalcedony and jasper. They are now beino-
used for jewelry, as charms, etc., etc.
The beads are very rare. There has never been more than one
or two dozen found. They are made of a blue stone, which very
ANCIENT FIRE-PLACES ON THE OHIO. 167
much resembles glass. There is a ledge of this stone near Mt.
Jefferson. It is 8uppK>sed they obtained the stone there.
Bone Rblics. The bone relics consist of beads, charms, needles,
besides articles of which I have no idea as to their use.
The bone beads are made of the leg and wing bones of a bird,
tibia and femur. They are only found on the skeletons,
around the neck and hips, and sometimes in the hands.
The charms are flat or round pieces of bone with strange marks
running in all directions over them.
The needles are from three to five inches long. Some of them
are highly polished.
I think they are used more like an awl than as needles. While
opening these mounds I sometimes find a sharp hollow tube which
has been pronounced Indian money. It resembles ivory, is white
and hard. These tubes are usually about half an inch long, and
covered with curious marks which, it is claimed, represent the
value.
(t. M. Powers.
Shedd, Linn Co., Oregon.
■o-
ANCIENT FIRE-PLACES ON THE OHIO.
At Blue Banks, about one and a half miles above Portsmouth,
Ohio, there are many old fire-places. During high water the river
banks cave off and leave them exposed to view. The best time to
find and explore them is after the water has receded enough to
make a trip along under the bank. At the place named above,
they occur at various levels, from near the top of the bank to
*bout thirty feet beneath. At one pont there arc seventeen dif-
ferent levels on which they were visible.
There are three different classes of these fire-places. Those on
the lower levels only show a burned streak of clay from Hve to
e*ght feet in diameter, with but a slight concavity, on which are
*ound ashes, charcoal, burned stones and bones, with an occasional
"■^gment of pottery, composed of broken stone and clay. At
*bout twenty feet down they are the most numerous, and many of
them are from one to three feet deep, and are lined with flat stones.
The clay, outside the stone, bears evidence of intense heat. In
^JHe instances they are nearly filled with ashes and charcoal.
The pottery from within them is composed of shell and clay.
Above the latter level, while not so numerous, they are more in-
teresting, from the fact that more or less fire relics arc obtained
^'^^ them. They are only slightly concave, and mixed with the
"^bes are stones broken by the action of fire, bones of various
kinds — some calcined, arrow-heads, drills, stone and hematite celts,
stone pipes, perforated stones called shuttles, and much broken
pottery — many pieces being nicely ornamented with lines, etc.
168 THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN.
These old fire-places are not confined to the Blue Banks alone,
but extend along up the river at intervals, for twenty -eight miles.
At Portsmouth, in digging the sewer on Front and Mill streets,
they were found at i>oints about one hundred feet apart, and at a
depth of eighteen or twenty feet.
They are also exposed along the high bank, nearly two miles up
the Scioto river. Opposite this point, on the west side of the same
stream, in excavating for the Ohio canal, the workmen unearthed
manv of them.
On the Ohio river about two miles below the mouth of the
Scioto, there are also a few of them exposed, at a depth of from
fifteen to twenty feet. They are generally called "ovens;" this
probably arises from the fact that the clay around the basin-shaped
beds is burned so hard that the water often washes them out in
large pieces, and when a half section of one is exposed it looks
like a large clay kettle.
It would seem that not only were thj>e places occupied at
different periods, but also by different tribes or nations. The first
occupants used stone in the manufacture of their pottery. They
were succeeded by others who used shell, who in turn gave way
to people using stone. The latter seem to have occupied the
ground for only a brief period when they were displaced by those
using shell. In the adjoining fields, however, both kinds of pot-
tery are found intermingled.
If the pottery made of stone only occurred on the lower levels
it would indicate that the people had gradually advanced in the
art. But occurring at different heights it must be conceded that
the two kinds were manufactured by different nations.
How long it has taken to deposit the river clay in which these
fire-places occur is a problem for geologists to decide. Certain it
is that thev antedate the residence of the Mound Builders of their
neighborhood many centuries, for on the surface above them arc
to be found the works of thi*^ race, in themselves verv ancient.
Some writers on the Mound Buildci*s advance, as a reason for
maintaining that the mounds are of modern origin, the assertion
that the human bones, and even the pottery, contained in them
would disappear if they were as ancient as some claim them to be.
But the theories of the former are effectuallv demolished bv the
evidence found within and around these fire-places. For here are
found not only well preserved pottery and fragments of animal
bones, but also fish and turtle bones, which have lain there for
ages. At least twice during the year, the water rises above
the greater portion of them, and must penetrate the bank many
feet, and as the bank washes but slowl}' it would seem that this
process alone should destroy them, without taking into considera-
tion the overflows which deposit the clay.
T. H. Lewis.
Portsmouth, Ohio, March 19, 1886.
THE SUN DANCE AMONG THE BLACKFEET. 169
THE SUN DANCE AMONG THE BLACKFEET.
Editor Am. Antiquarian,
This is one of the annual ceremonies of great importance among
the Blackfoot and Cree nations of the Canadian northwest.
It is a ceremony of such a nature that the successful participa-
tion of it, denotes whether the young men shall be " warriors " or
not.
The sun dance takes place during the hottest of the summer
months, August, and lasts for three or four days. The young
men who are willing to become " braves " generally undergo a
lengthy fast for some time previous. At the commencement of
the ceremonies they repair to the medicine man's lodge. He
mak/[?s four deep incisions in each aspirant's chest. He makes
them in such a manner, two at each side, that a short stick can be
passed underneath the flesh intervening between each pair of in-
cisions. After the medicine man gets through with them, they
repair to the dance ground, where a stout pole about twenty feet
in length has been set upright. This pole is decorated, and has
some half a dozen rawhide ropes suspended from the top; the loose
ends of which are made fast to the sticks in the young men's
chests. The young men then throw their weight on the ropes and
start dancing around the pole. They shout and sing all manner
of bravado, what they have done and what they will do, till the
sticks tear away the flesh, or the dancers fall fainting on the
ground; either case frees them, and then they are pronounced
" brave," i. e., warriors. If they show the least signs of coward-
ice in bearing pain or in refusing to take part in the dance, they
are told that thev are not fit to associate with men, and henceforth
rank as "squaw men," and are not allowed to take part in the
tribe councils, war parties, etc. Occasionally as a greater display
of courage, individuals will have corresponding incisions made on
their shoulders and backs, buffalo skulls, guns, saddles, and other
weighty objects being suspended from them. The dancers will
then run around trailing these after them until the objects are torn
off, the greater display of courage being rewarded by more pres-
tige as " braves," and more important privileges being allowed to
them in after life.
Continual songs of admiration and encouragement, by the spec-
tators, accompanied by the loud and violent beatings of the " tom-
tom," spur on the young aspirants, who, weakened by the previous
fast, often fall faint and senseless to the ground; very often they
are lifted up and started at it again till the .flesh tears loose; then
after the ordeal is over they repair to a feast and the attentions of
their relations.
This ordeal is obligatory, and some time or other every young
man has to pass through it, the non-participation in which, de-
170 THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN,
notes cowardice. Indians in after years will show the scars with
manly pride. .
How different is this custom, horrible as it is, from the disgust-
ing custom in vogue among a few British Columbian tribes (nortl
coast). The young men of which, wishing to become brave, musi
devour a live puppy in the presence of witnesses.
/ G. E. Laidlaw.
" The Fort," Victoria Road, Ont., July 1 1, 1885.
YICSACK, OR THE HAT.
Ed, America?! Antiquarian :
About four miles east from Victoria, British Columbia, close tc
the landing in Cadbury Bay, stands Yicsack, (the subject of the
enclosed sketch,) a rough round block of sand stone, in layers, the
upper portion of which projects all around, and looks like a hat,
whence the name. This block of sandstone, stands on a glacia
boulder, and seen from a distance, the whole may be taken for the
image of a little boy with a hat on his head, sitting on a block oi
stone.
The situation is very beautiful, as the whole neighborhood is
a gently sloping, grassy plain, or rather park, inclining to the pla-
cid sea, and untouched by the hand of man. Bounding this park
on the South and West, rising to a height of forty feet, is an an-
cient sea margin, in whose steep grassy slopes the erosion of the
sea, ages ago, is still plainly shown. Eastward a little from Yic-
sack, this park is covered by hundreds of rough, moss covered,
stone cairns, in each of which are found a few crumbling bones;
all that remains of an ancient race of people, who in their day and
generation, might have seen the surging waves of the stormy sea,
beating against this ancient margin. But to my tale,Yicsack stands
as I have said, on a glacial boulder in this beautiful spot, and the
hanging branches of the oaks have been trimmed from time to
time to give a free passage around it. The Indians in the neigh-
borhood, and the adjoining tribes as well, hand down the tradition
that it has been there many, many years, and has always been an
object of veneration and awe; and there is little doubt but that it
must have been connected with the ancient and prehistoric race,
whose cairns laid round the sacred spot long, long years before the
advent of the present race of Indians.
Yicsack is supposed, by the present Indians at least, to have con-
trol over the weather, and such an attribute being highly prized,
he naturally draws the attention of his devotees, especially when
bad weather debars the fisherman and hunter from their wonted
sports; then, it is, indeed, he is in most request and obtains his right-
ful honors; dances arc performed around him, and he is treated to
a coat of fish oil, which is supposed to mollify him greatly.
Yicsack like his worshippers, seems to be unable to resist th^
YIC8ACK, OR THE HAT. 171
march of civilization, for in 1876 he got knocked off his pedestal by
some cattle which were grazing where he stood, and broke in two.
Shortly after this misfortune, one of his devotees, an Indian named
Joseph happened to pass by, and seeing Yicsack's misfortune, had
the two pieces conveyed to his home, where he seems to have lain
neglected until circumstances again brought him to the front. In
December, 1878, a long spell of rain, sleet and snow, with high
^vinds, prevented his devotees from obtaining their winter's supply
of salmon. The bay was full of them and yet they durst not ven-
ture out. One day on which the storm blew with greater fury
than usual, a number of his devotees met in Joseph's house were
(liscussing the likelihood of the weather clearing up soon. One of
them happening to see Yicsack laying outside made this remark:
" How," said he, " can we expect good weather, while Yicsack
Jays out here in the dirt; come, let us carry him out and set him on
l^is ancient boulder, rub him well with fish oil and await the result.
Consenting, all of them, they soon had him in thorough working
order. That afternoon I remember well, and strange, yet true,
the weather set in fine, and continued so for some time. Yicsack
Js still to the front, but has not been rubbed, that I am aware of,
since 1880, owing to his devotees living, during most of the time,
^t another part of the country. Like the ancieiit Druids his dev-
otees used to worship under the oaks. And like the ancient Jews
and others they set up their idol in a grove. This is the first de-
scription of these images, though I hope, as I have promised, soon
to send others.
Yours respectfully,
James Deans.
V^ictoria, V. I., B. C.
172 THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN.
The Museum,
DEVOTED TO THE INTERESTS OF COLLECTORS.
EDITED BY EDWIN A. BARBER.
COLLECTORS AND COLLECTIONS.
Mr. S, Z. Frcy^ of Palatine Bridge, N. Y., who has a vcry
large and vaUiable collection of relics and antiquities, has found,,
associated with trinkets of European introduction, on an old Indian
villagtj site, some curious objects closely resembling in form and
shape a boy's marbles, but made of some vitreous substance lighter
in weight than glass. They have no holes or eyes for suspensio!\
and are of a dark gray color. For what use were they intended?
The same collector has also found, recently, fragments of Eurc»-
pean clay pipes marked respectively S H, E B and R.
Dr, E, R, Freeman^ of Wapakoneta, Ohio, possesses a fine col-
lection of Revolutionary and Indian relics, mainly gathered from
Bemus Heights, N. Y., also a calumet which formerly belonged
to chief Red Cloud, and some arrows which belonged to Spotted
Tail, of Dakota, and many other Indian relics.
In the collection of implements of the northwestern Indians,,
owned by the Rev. M. Eells, of Skokomish, Wash. Ten, are some
interesting war clubs of stone, bone and copper, household uten-
sils of horn, gambling bones, pipes, etc.
J/r. y. R, Kendall^ of Terre Haute, Ind., is the owner of .a
choice collection of aboriginal remains, such as ceremonial cres-
cents, rare ornaments, 90 discoidal stones and about the same-
number of pipes, a large number of stone tubes, cones, ornamented
shell carvings from Tenn., and 24 flint spades, the largest 22 inches
long.
The collection of Messrs. Philip and Alfred Sharpless, of West
Chester, Pa., to which allusion was made in the March number of
this magazine, contains 5,000 arrow and spear points, 100 axes, 10
large steatite basins, 25 pestles, 10 " banner-stones," 20 hammers,,
10 stone pipes, 15 spades, about 10 gorgets, etc., not including bro-
ken specimens.
Mr, W, W, Adams^ of Mapleton, N. Y., has procured, through
recent excavations, a large number of catUnite beads, pendants and
ornaments, many of them of curious and interesting forms. The
THE MUSEUM. 178
I . '
material, of coursie, was brought from the Minnesota quarry be-
fore New York State was settled by the whites. « '
Mr, C W, McGinnis^ of Frankfort, Ohio, possesses a valuable
collection of mound relics.
Amongst the pioneer collectors of the far West is Mr.J. Y.
Collins, of Whatcom, Wash. Ten, who has gathered together an
interesting scries of local antiquities, consisting of chisels, pestles,
mortars and one pipe.
Mr, H. G, Hodge^ of York, 111., is the owner of a valuable col-
lection of relics from the Wabash valley. Pieces of pottery, ar-
row and spear points, and knives.
Mr E, A, Barber^ of Philadelphia, Pa., has just received from
Peru a most interesting collection of textile fabrics from ancient
Peruvian graves. One specimen, in particular, deserves special
mention. It is a genuine quipu^ a bunch of knotted cords of
various colors, used by the Incas ior recording events, dates, etc.
These objects are extremely rare in collections, especially in the
United States.
Ed. Museum :
"Fairy" Pipes. — When the writer was a boy of sixteen, about
the year 1854, being fond of boating and swimming, he, from
time to time, found on the banks of the River Severn, at Tewkes-
bury (England), upwards of forty pipes of various shapes similar
to the illustrations on p. 294, Vol. i, Jcwitt's Ceramic Art . of
Great Britain (London, 1878). None had a stem of more than
three inches; some were marked on the stem lOHN and others
with monograms. All had a very small bowl. The river then,
and for centuries before, had been the main channel tor traffic
from Staffordshire to BristoL Pipes were probably dropped by
boatmen and others frequenting the river. It has since been deep-
ened by artificial means and th6 water level is now four feet
higher.
Fred.Ratiiboxe.
London, England.
NOTES.
^ At the January meeting of the Numismatic and Antiquarian So-
ciety of Philadelphia, Dr. D. G. I3rinto,n made some remarks on
the recent theories of the original population of America. He
first referred to the opinions of those who claim for the red . race
^ autochthonous development on this continent, and maintained
"^ any such opinions are in direct conflict with the whole system
5>f organic evolution, as none of the highjer quadrumana either liv-
"*? of fossil have been found in America.. Hence the American
"^ was originally an immigrant from the old world. Four
theories of his original arrival have been maintained: i. By a
174 THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN.
land passage from A Wca by way of a now sunken Atlantis. 2.
By a sea passage through the Polynesian Archipelagol 3. By a
land passage from North-Eastem Asia. 4. By a land passage
from North- Western Europe. The first two of these the speaker
rejected for various reasons. The last two he considered equally
probable, aud indeed almost capable of demonstration. Immi-
grants no doubt came in from both directions, and became amal-
gamated to form a homogeneous race. The date of this early im-
migration was anterior to the later phenomena of the Glacial
Epoch, and possibly even to its commencement.
Mr, Prank H, Cushing^ of Zufti fame, has probably paid more
attention to the details of aboriginal workmanship than any other
archaeologist in this country. His experiments in manufacturing
imitations of stone implements by aboriginal methods have led to
the discovery of certain characteristic marks which always distin-
guish genuine relics from spurious. This result was only obtained
after a long and careful study of the materials used by the ancient
workmen, the effects of the tqols which had evidently been used,
and a practical application of the primitive methods employed by
the Indians of to-day.
TWO STONE RELICS OF' UNUSUAL FORM.
Ed, American Antiquarian :
The writer has in his cabinet a rare shape of ceremonial weapon
made of striped slate and finejy polished. It is oblong in form,
three and one half inches wide at one end, and one and seven-
eighths inches at the other. Its greatest thickness is in the center,
where a symmetrical perforation almost half an inch in diameter
has been worked through. What might be called the cutting
edges are slightly indented. The top and bottom sides are formed
into an elongated oval. It was picked up from the surface, one
and one half miles north of Hardin, Shelby Co., Ohio. A similar
implement with four notched sides, and about the same size is fig-
ured by Mr. William H. Holmes on page 456, Annual Report of
the Bureau of Ethnology 1881-82.
The other implement "may be described as a fiattish cylinder
tapering slightly towards the ends which are truncated." 1 quote
because it exactly agrees with the description given by Mr.Holmes
a similar relic on page 507, of the same Report.
The object is ^\^ and one-half inches long. In one end has
been bored a tapering hole five-eighths of an inch in diameter, and
at most three and one quarter inches deep. It is made from a
tough black, fine grained stone, and it is partly polished. In my
relic the groove is wanting. It is singular that the object is also
from Indiana, having been found on the surface, six miles west of
Portland, Jay countv. I am inclined to think that it was used «s
a whistle to summon, or to imitate the voice of some animal* itt
THE MUSEUM, 175
hunting. The writer, has in his cabinet a number more of rare
objects which he will take pleasure in describing as time permits.
A. F. Berlin.
Allcntown, Pa.
INTERESTING RELIC.
Editor American Antiquarian : ^
At Lucas' Farmers' Fair, which was helJ in Bowling Green,
Warren Co., Ky., last week, a premium was offered for the great-
est curiosity. It brought out any number of rusty swords, knives,
flint lock muskets (used in the Revolutionary War), coins of the
Roman Csesars, great grandmothers' dresses and caps, etc. The
premium was awarded to a bone about three inches in diameter.
But this bone had imbedded in it a perfect flint arrow head, which
evidently had been sent from some strong bow many, many years,
if not centuries ago. It was thought by physicians to be the hip bone
of a human being, which was penetrated by the arrow head in its
concave surface, the point extending about one and a quarter inches
on each side of the bone. Some thought it a shoulder blade, but
it looks more like the hip bone. A strange thing about it is the
appearance of its having healed around and covered the foreign
substance with ossified matter, which is there now. If this is true,
the wonderful subject must have carried this terrible missile in the
hone for months. Now what healing art had these ancient peo-
ple that they could save a wounded man under such circumstances,
when all th** boasted scientific knowledge of this century could
not save the lamented Garfield when only a small bullet had passed
through a small portion of bone in his body ?
This specimen was found in a cave near Bowling Green, from
which a human skull, and other human bones have been brought
^y exploring parties.
J. B. Nall.
Louisville, Ky., Get. 31.
BRONZE PLATE OF CHARLEMAGNE FOUND
NEAR ANN ARBOR.
^d. American Antiquarian:
A few weeks ago a Hollander, living out of town about four
f^ileg, while digging a well near his house came upon an old, cast
hronze or brass plate at a depth of about five feet. The plate from
^ appearances had been cast, it had evidently been buried many
y^ars for it has marks of great age. To describe the plate ; it was
•^ut 14 inches in diameter, with the rim about 2% inches wide.
The rim was raised about half an inch and has the hour glass with
176 THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN.
torches at each side, the globe, the square, etc., all represented in it,
In the center of the bronze was the head of Charlemagne in pro-
file; the head turned toward the right. Encircling the head was
the name "Charlemagn." At the right of the head was his coat of
arms with some lettering around it which was too indistinct to be
read.
There is no question but that the cast bronze is of an early date.
The best theory as to how it came there is, I think, that it was the
property of the Jesuit Missionaries who passed through this part
of the country as early as 1650. They may have traded it or given
it to the Indians. The place where the bronze cast was found
was probably an old Indian grave, although no direct evidences
of it were discovered.
. The plate is now in the possession of a citizen here who thinks
it a great find and one worthy of consideration. •
F. C. Clark.
Ann Arbor, Mich.
COINAGE.
Ed, Museum :
Thinking that perhaps a few facts stateci very briefly, concern-
ing the introduction of money or coins into the history of the
world may be interesting, I have gathered a few such together
in the hope that a desire may be stimulated in some of your readers
to persue a subject further, which I can assure them from experience
will amply repay any time given to. its study. ,
From a very remote period of the world's history coins or pieces
of metal of various sizes and shapes have been used as a circulating
means of inter-exchange between persons and communities. We
find reference made in thp Bible to transactions where purchases
of land, corn and other commodities have been made for money;
as for instance it is recorded that Abraham purchased of Ephron
the field in which was the cave of Machpelah for " 400 shekels of
silver, current money with the merchant," but note that Abraham
weighed to Ephron the silver. And again the sons of Jacob
went down into Egypt to buy corn with money in their sacks, and
here again we find it was weighed, as when they returned from
Egypt "every man's money was found in the mouth of his sack,
money in full weight?'* I think we may infer from these instances
that the money then in use \>^as not coined money, that is, pieces of
metal bearing an impress on them and of a fixed standard and
weight; but that it was merely a certain quantity of metal weighed.
Some have asserted thnt Tubal Cain wh6 is mentioned in Gene-
sis as " an instructor of every artificer in brass and iron" was the
first who coined money, but this is purely imaginiiry and not borne
out by any fact. The shekel mentioned by Abraham was simply,
a weight in use in early times and nbt a toiii, and the word KesH
tah^Lamb) which is translated money in several places in the oM,
THE MTJ8EUW.-
177
Testament (!oes not refer to ii piece of money, as some have sup-
posed, that bore the figure of a Inmh, but riithcr to a weight in sil-
ver, prnhahly of the viihie of a lamb. From the pninted sculptures
found oii the inonuments sit Thebes, we find that the Egyptians
were acquainted with the use of gold and silver, and that the met-
als were hi common use as a circulating medium. Money as is
shown on the sculptures was in the form of rings and passed cur-
rent by weight and not by talc; public weighers were appointed
among the Egyptians, who^c business it was to see that the
weights were jusi; and in illustration of what I havt saiil respect^
ing the word kesitah (lamb) you will observe by looking at this
illustration, which is copied from the monuments of Thebes, that
tho weights in use were in the form of oxen and sheep.
Cattle were used by the Greeks as a medium of exchange before
coins were introduced, and in a mountainous country such as
Greece was, without roads or canals, modes of transit being ex-
tremely difficult, cattle were well adapted for currency. Homer
docs not mention coined money, which it is most probable he
would have done if it in his days had been in existence, but alludes
to a circulating medium then in use in Greece of a very much
more primitive character. He says that an ox was exchanged for
a brass bar three feet long, and that a woman who understood sever-
al of the useful arts was considcretl as worth four osen, (here we
have an insight into the value of woman in ancient Greece), and
again in speaking of the relative value of armour. Homer says,
Glaucus' golden armour was worth one hundred oxen, while Dio-
med's brazen armour only nine. Hence on some of the earliest
known specimens of coine<I money we have the representation of
oxen and sheep stamped on the metal, and the Romans impressed
many of their coins with the image of an ox or other animal. The
term used by them pecus (cattle) is the origin of the lattn word
178 THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN.
pecunia (money) from which many of our modern monetary
terms are derived. Metals are well adapted for a circulating me-
dium, as they are less perishable than most materials, moreover
they can be divided. into any number of parts and be again united
by fusion. Metals can be hammered and rolled into plates and
moulded into any shape and occupying as they do less bulk, the
other materials are easily transported from place to place.
As I have before mentioned, in early times before metals were
coined or fabricated into money, the metal was weighed ; one can
easily imagine the great inconvenience and trouble attached to this
mode of procedure, and then there was -the uncertainty that the
silver or other metal • was pure, but if a well known authority, and
who better than a governing body, were to stamp pieces of metal
after satisfying themselves that the metal was of the right stand-
ard of purity, and each piece of coin of a fixed weight, then the cir-
culation^of money would be much facilitated, as it would pass from
hand to hand without doubt or suspicion, and thus we come to the
origin of coins, such even as are in circulation at the present day.
From what has been said, it will be easily understood that the
coin so issued, of a fixed weight, should in some instances be called
after the weight they denoted. For instance we have the early
English penny in silver, weighing one pennyweight and so 240
of these pennies weighing one pound of silver, hence the origin of
the present name for twenty shillings in value; although owing
to the great advance that has taken place in the price of silver, a
pound sterling no longer is equivalent to a pound weight (Troy)
of silver, yet we retain the name in our (English) monetary trans-
actions.
Charles E. Fewster,
Member of the London, Vienna, Brussels and Stockholm Numis-
matic Societies.
London, G. B.
OEOanAPHlCAL DISTRIBUTION OP SliNKIND.
Editorial.
PKIMARY DIVISIONS AND GEOGRAPIIICAI. DIS-
TRIBUTION OF MANKIND.
Mr. Jarots Dallas, Curator of the Albert Memorial Museum,
^Exeicr. Englimil, hus n paper in the Jourmil at the Atithropolog-
icbI Institiilc. on the Primary Divisions of Hit human race which
i* wtirtliy of ridtice. His division is thrte-fokl, the Kami- as the
Hit: which wc have made in a previous number of this Mngajsine.
The division which he makes is as follows: rirst. the Lcucochoi,
rcjitcsciiled hy the Europcun ; Second, the McBochrol represented
bjlht Mongols and American Indians; Third, the Acthocroi rep-
rwcnicd by the Negroes and AuBtraUunt^.
Wc propose A few words on this division as related to tlic Amcri-
«n nice. The question is whether the American races arc oil to be
clawed under the llilril division, and must be considere<l as one
't«:k akin to the Mongolian. Wc shall consider the races in their
rxM'i'rtt order, awl take up the Aethocroi as first. Under this head
Mt. Dnllus places the following races; the Ucrbcrs, the Nubians,
thi' N'cgrocs or Africans, the Aiidamana, Fijis, Papuans, and
(JithilU tribe of the Dckkan, the inhabitimU of the PhilHppian
WaiKls ami many of the Oceanic races. The charnetcrislics of these
raccx-Eire as follows. They are all dolichoeephalic. The face is
Erognntluc ; the eyes dnrk to blnck, the skin yellow-brown to
lack, the hair black and woolly, to wavy aiid prKsCnling a flat-
I lencd ellipse in section and the nose is platyrrlune. The territory
leotererfLby the race is very wide hut it is mainly jn the tropical rc-
■iCHMU, Prom South Africa to Egyp^"and ./rom Nubia to India,
'i ll;e Islands of Occunica and Australia.to the South, the eKtcn-
itJ ii-jmcrrupted only by the open ocean ;.bul -the Mcditcrra-
KTO, the Black Se.i; the Caspian, the tabl^ Jand of Thibet and the
mil chsin iif the Himalayas are the bouiidnri(:s oji'tbe north.
In-this the ilislribiition of the Mammal^ seems- to point out
" c fact that here was u permanent zone. The Catarrhine nion-
itvx, ihi: Icopanis, civets, ichneumons, jackals. Etc., abound in
' n^on. The typical face of the region is one similar to that
tcntod in the cut'with the exception that the hair is generally
II. The second division, viz. the Mcsochroi, arc^typically known
I Mongols. The true Mongol is distinguished from the Negro
f the gobular or brae by cephalic form of the skull. There are,
180
TIIE AMERICAN ANTIQUAOIAN.
however, osccptions to this, for the Eskhnos ami iriiiny of the
North American Iniliiins are dolichocephiilic.
The characteristics of this stock or race are that the fact is curig-
nat^ic, the eyes dark to black, the skin yellow-brown to olive,
the hair coarse, straight and hlack presenting a section with almost
a complete circle and the ii
and quotes M. Bj
The distribution of this
race is from the Thibet rsinge,
nnrihward through the whole
of the central Platean, extend-
ing west as far as Hungary, east
as far as the island of Japan;
they occupy the coast from
Siam to Kamschatka. The
Malays differ from the Mon-
gols but Mr. Dallas thinta
they belong to the Mccochroi,
slock. There is considerable"
similaritv between the Indians
of America and the Mongol^
of Asia. Dr. Wilson thinkt"
that to one ethnic centre may
he tr.iced the Fin, the Esqui-
mau, the Chinese, the Euro-
pean Turks, Magyar, and
American Indians. Mr. DaliHa
thinks that the Basques belong-
ed to the Mesochroic grOup;
Professor Whitney say^ that
there is no other dialect of the old world that so much resembled^
n structure the American language. In reference to the Zoologi-.
GEOGRAPniCAl- OISTBIBUTIOK OF
cal zoiic, the Menchroii
with the eslinct rhinoctr
tioii to ihc New WtJi-lil \
lial.itjt <>( III „ 1] I
Gcorgins, Cirt. i<)si ^f
ghanistun knh] mii i \ I
Hindoostan, t N rlht i
' India, on the cast.
To the wcsu Ihc sariK'
K^«tock ovi-rniti wisicni
■ Asia^ qenrly the whole of
■ Burope, and thcro is souk-
»«vi(tm«: that tliey aUn
ftiacd inhnbited the '^n-M
tceniral PI Hl .11 <.f \sn
Fextcn^ng ns fn tut is
Ithe Jnpanciicis] iikK Some
thave aiicribcd tlii. \jiios Id
Ktbnt rame itock It is |)
liplricthat this I ^Ma,.]u I
p»Kse<l oil ti> the c 1 I
lu^ KnmsLhilk. u, [
KCaine scattered iiiK II
Wthc Mcsothrui i <... n,
rAmcrica, iii this h t it
L -counting for the dM(.rsit\
T of type on this continent
group ill the Old World is coterminous.
■< and Mr. Dnlliis thinks that the distribu-
ts hy the way of the oft-derided Atlantis.
The division extended from
the Atlantic coast to the
Caspian in the Old World,
and from the Atlantic
cftnst westward to the
Rocky Mountains and
thioiighoiit South Ameri-
(.1 1 the New "VV odd
The wolves aid fo^es
nic fi ii north tf th<,
F ihochio c boundiri nn 1
Iso occnpv the whole of
N rth Amtnta It wo ill
1 St see n -IS if in Vnitr
the \ -11 1 t ou w ns i,u
t ihit 1 d <i[ net tipc
I Ikc 1 rLSchctl And th it
■\ thii 1 cU s wa^ rcalK
iLpresL tc I h\ tht n
in The Lucochroc
group Liiib ulls the Can
LJwian ruct. intluding the
\ngl baxoti and Med
fimihcs The
-181
THE AMEMCAS ANTIQUABIAS.
The inquiry ivhicli u-c put forth in this contittctiiin is whelhc
' the geographical bomiduncs of these difftrent groups of the hu-.
man race arc such as Mr. Dallas antl other Ethnologist^ have fixet^l
upon. It would sometime seem as if the three fold division ex-i
temled further than the limits of the Asiatic, European, and Afri~l
can continents and couUI be traced not only in Polynesia and the T
islands of the Pacific hut could he also recognized on the Amenciin J
continent.
We present here a scries of cuts which represent the differcnt'l
casts of countenance or typical features. But they arc faces which J
are found in regions beyond or outside tbe boundaries which hai
been fixed upon as limiting the spo-^
cifie groups. In the first i
of faces (Figs, i, 2 and 3) wc ttndl
the characteristics which belong tol
the Leucohroi or white race and yetl
tlicy arc faces which aic commonly f
seen in the interior of the Am
continent. In the second scries f Figs. J
4 and 5 ) wc find characteristics iJ fl
Ihe Aethochroi, but ihev are facesa
which belong to diverse and remoteV
regions, one of them being the fac&fl
of a Zulu chief and the other tf|
Xcgi
In the third series ( Figs. 6 and 7)!
wc have the characteristics of the^
Mcsochroic group. These face;
icmble those of the Xorth American Indians and yet ihcy really J
in^r the n
hahita
onntains of Thibet, fur remote from ihftj
s. The question is whether why such :
diversity among the countenances whichil
are found on the American continent, 1
such resemblances to those found on th^
three other continents, Europe, Aai& and]
(, Africa? Are the lines of migration
i be traced across the oceans and the bounda-J
Irics of all three groups extended into thlk|
■ far off region. The Mongolian face ia fra
■quently seen among the North AmericHl
^Indians hut the Caucaasian features '
also be seen and there are not a few facevi
which even resemble the Negro. I^
we take into the account the faces ani
carved portraits which are seen upon ttwfl
ric. 7, Idols in America, we should concludef
that not one but all three of the groups are here represented*]
So unlike are theie faces as ihey are transmitted to us by the arfca
of the natives. We throw out the inquiry whether the AmcricaaB
races arc not to be studied with this point in miiui and whether^
NOTES ON EUROPEAN ARCHAEOLOGY. 188
there are not evidences that the three distinct groups are represent-
ed on this continent. The typical face of the Aethocroic group is
found both upon the southern points of the African and the Amer-
ican among the Zulus and Patagonians. The typical f»ice of
the Mesochroic group maybe found in the temperate zones, among
the Aborigines of America, and among the native inhabitants of
the Thibet mountains. The typical race of the Leucohroic group
may be seen in the inhabitants of Europe, among the Caucassian
mountains of Asia and on the plateaus of America. All of them
having traits and characteristics of the different groups though sep-
arated very far from one another. Our conclusion is that climate
has much to do with faces and race affinities are uncertain.
•o-
BIBLIOGRAPHY,
ARCHiEGLOoiCAL. — Somc observations on the letters of Amerigo Vespuci, by
M. F. Force, read l)eforo the Congres International Des Americanistes at
Brussels, September, 1879, Cincinnati; Robt. Clark & Co., 1885,
Catalogue of the Colleclious Historical and Archaeological of the National
Museum of Mexico, by W. W. Blake, A. M.
Historical Evidence of the Misration of Abram, by W. H. Chad Boscawen,
Esq., F. R. Historical Society, Victoria.
Notes on Certain Maya and Mexican Manuscripts by Cyrus Thomas, extract
from the Third Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology, Washington,
Government Printing Office, 1885.
Prehistoric Textile Fabrics of the United States, derived f;om Impressions
on Pottery by William Henry Holmes, Washington. Government Printing
Office.
Illustrated Catalogue of a portion of the collections made by the Bureau of
Ethnology during tue field season of 1881, by W. H. Holmes. Washington,
Government Printing Office, 1885,
The Monoliths of Sau Juan Teotihuacan, Mexico. By W. H. Holmes, Wash-
ington, D. C, 1886,
TheGuesdeCollecfcionof Antiquities in Pointe-a-Pitre, Guadeloupe, West In-
dies. By Oms T. Mason. From the Smithsonian Report for 1884, Washing-
too. Government Printing Office, 1885.
Pamphlets on Anthropology, edited by Prof. Otis T. Mason. Read before
the Washington, D. C. American Nationalist, Extra, March 1886.
liescmblances in Arts Widely Separated, by Otis T. Mason. Read before
the Washincrton Philosophical Society, Jan. 30, 1886. American Naturalist,
Kxtra, March 1886.
Educational. — Eleventh Annual Report of the Directors of the American
College and Education Society. Presented at the Annual Meeting held in City
of Boston, June 8, 1885, — Boston Beacon Press.
Circular of Information of the Bureau of Education ; Nov, 3, 1885. Wash-
ington, Government Printing Office.
Miscellaneous. — A Few Reflections on the Rights. Duties, Obligations,
mod Advantages of Hospitality. By Cornelius Walford, F. S. A. F. 8, 8. F, R,
Htetorical Society, 1885. London, C. W, H, Wyman.
184 THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN.
NOTES FROM THE FAR EAST.
BY PROF. JOHN A^'VRY.
Authorities on the Aboriginal Tribes in and Around Ikdia. — Per-
sons who desire to explore a field somewhat remote from the beaten tracks of
scholars are often seriously perplexed at the outset of their inquiries to know
what authorities can be consulted, and which are most worthy of confidence.
This is true in a special de|i:ree when one seeks to study the uncivilized hill-
tribes of India and its borders. Information concerning the languages, religions,
and social customs of these secluded peoples has b^n collected mainly by
missionaries and officers of the Britisn Civil Service; and is .widely scattered
in journals of learned societies, records of government, and a variety of oth-
er publications. In not a few cases the statements of early observers arc out
of print, and no longer accessible to the general public in their original form;
though their substance may usually be found in the works of later writers.
The following list of authorities, though not protending to be exhaustive,
probably contains all that arc important and are still procunible.
General Works — The subject has never yet been treated as :i whole with
the throughness that it deservej; and that is now possible, the survey of individ-
ual oxplorers having been usually limited to small sections of the lield: but
there are a few works whose range is wide enough to entitle tl'cm to a place
under this bond. First in point of excellence stands Col. Dallon's Kthin»higtf
ofBe/tf/ai, pp. 327, Calcutta, 1872. a work of the highest authority but ex-
pensive. Tlie wide extent of the Presidency of Bengal brings the greater part
of the aboriginal population under i^urvey. The series of full page photo-
graphs of ivpical specimens of the tribes is a valuable feature. Hownev s
Wiid Trihiin oflmlia, pp. XV, 224. London. 1882, covers the field, but in the
style of a popular sketch. The subject is briefly treated in Lassen's Indische
Alterthumskuude, Band I. The outline found under the title "India" in the
Encyclopedia Britannica and in Hunter's Imperial Gazetteer of India is relia-
ble, but too general to alTor J much satisfaction. For the languages of the
aboriginal tribes Gust's Mtfdern Language* of the E(i»t Indies, pp. 198, Lond.,
1878. will be found helpful, but only as laying o«t the field and indicating its
principal divisions. One who expects more than a sketch will be disappointed.
An excellent paper On the noii- Aryan Languages of India, by E. L. Brandreth
and haying the same general character as the preceding, is found in the Jour.
R, A. S., Vol. X, Part I. Campbell's Specimens of the Languages of India
and Hunter's Cwnparativc Dictionary of the Languages of India and High Ama
are useful in the hands of an experienced scholar, but need revision before
they can be recommended to a novice. Works of more limited range will be
named under the five following heads.
Triijes of tue Northern Bordek.— The best, and almost the only, au-
thority on the tribes in and around Nepal is B. H. Hodgson, whose scholarly
researches are summed up in his Languages, Literature, and Religion of 3V-
val and Tilut,'^'Loiid. 1874, and Essays Relating to Indian Subjects, 2 vols.
Lond. 1880. Dr. Hooker in his Himalayan Journals has contnbuted to our
knowledge of the Lepchas and neighboring tribes. Dr. Hunter repeats these
descriptions in the tenth volume of his Statistical Account of Bengcd, To Col.
Mainwaring we are indebted for a grammar of Lepcha, Calcutta, 1876. and to
Prof. Schott of Berlin for a monograph on the same. Mr. John Beames has
written on the language of the Mogar tribe of Nepal, Jour. R. A. 8. Vol.
lY., and Capt. Forbes has compared the dialects of the Chepang and Kusun-
dah tribes of Nepal with those of the hill tribes of Aracan« do. Vol. IX.
Part II. The Gospels of Matthew and John have been translated into Lepcfaa.
Tribes op Northeastern India— The political relationa of Government
with the tribes extending from Bhutan around the cihniit of Anam to' British
Burma may be best studied in Mackenzie's JNTorth-eaM Fi^ntSer (f Bengal, Cal-
cutta, 1884. The tribes along the northern border of ftiini are iHll quite in*
totWpbomtbbi
wbl Bod C I D 1
1 A 1j
l> t«-
1
k r
ll«.
II
1
I d
u 1 Ifei
I «c
fC
1 u u
J
1 ■
'^ /
\>n .
\
4 BiKks
d p-
/
Tnhr
,i
K I IP
Be * E dl tr ^
U R pu u p bl 1 J
UiUlIU IH 0-9 Gill
by
by
till L U Uw
,Si (/
ihrm pp. 20 Ilu t,ixi
lb d i IW(^ / << (A AT (m
|J LdlBUh It lUi
I Wlu-I U, <i ItWO U H d -
; 1 t flk I i I VI i d wn
I nr Lpllbc«ijri?ai/
1 Sp rm n ivJ B batfUtr .
W odili p Ih LuJ ( Juprtbtuin f
1 W )!. \ (U^ t M I re I
M J G E y eiKly -J I\o-
(I It) 5 U AC fflpbeli O tin
1 111 ]{ F b II Jilt T be f A Ch
tht Lt g f/tj, i L) f I ifk iS tall
1B»4 collected by b tr rs
LAI, IsDiA.— We are now in a IxjlturkaowB regioa. The
: Itov. M. A. SlierriDg, Jliiulo Tribft mid Catlf, 8 vols. —
'1 aj vula.: Dr. W. W. Hunicr. Orwut. a voU.. Lond., 1872,
I,';"', Loud, 18T2 — works in which rhetorical embolllsh'
!i:iirs sirift liisiririf ill veracity — . ^ti'tiitieal Accouul of Ben-
.\ W I >Li- ii.hii M.ilcoBi, Ceatrtil in^ia. 2 toIs., Land.,
•■''Zfliarr, pp 582, Nagpur. IVIO: iifT>arl
■'■ ■ niita. pp. 151, Nwtpur. 1868; lUv. S.
-.'.'.■ '■-.'.■■■; rt-unno™, pp. XXlV.3U,Nagpur, 1806
u iriigTiiciiiiary — ; Liipl. J. Forejlh. Itight'i'Hls of Vntntl
piilbTU— awutk iiiosilj un other subjvcia; Cul, Klocuid, Bliui
*ySHe^n Bange. Jour. Aulhrop. IdbI.. vuI. 9; The KoU, Select,
iv. No 47; A. Nottroll OrammaUk rfrr KM-Spraetie, pp. 104,
JWaS; TiS* K>Hr (?i»;iei) (h MundariKolb; Hcv. L. O. Skrefamd.
fCOramtixtr, pp, 870, BeDures, 187it; I'iniiont nf the- Iseripturai in San-
tUt fler. A. Campbell, The tkthlfialt, Ind. KvuDgef. Kvvlew, No. £3, tad
_ ._ _a«T!: Bn J«te Ite«iM. UC < «M*
IK*ni>«>tfi>*na».iaw. A.fi Bfne^nLXXXIXPWcL SmlMd*;
Av«^Jbfc<Oi^^iadH. JMW.aA.S- Val X Pm IL; br. A.
WKhftpipfW— ikeGoa^ia tte iM^a AB<>fMf7. Pus* a. IT. XI. LXX;
Be- R C^mML CiBf ir^i C»«Mr <fb I»nMMiu fj^^B^Pi. \jom±.
Um.'. flo. JofcaOMB. n«C«;*fiMa«a(Kk<^ G*^^Ja«. R A.a.
viol XIII. Part III: rViM^Melnd. AM. P»« X. XXXm. LXX CIT;
r*< Kir. M> 4o. Part* IL IV. XI: & R SwtMM. a^J^ TW*. da. Pan
LXXIV; MBhw fwpmMtte fi««*K !■ Oa. Ptam 3CLTI1I. LXXXVt,
XCn.ca chtflUf^^, JpLPWtT.— ae «■<»!«< iaif.«fa.P»»i XX-
TwwM or S oF T JWJ InxA.— Tke mmI hriifMl boiAs Md mbov u*:
W. H Xonfean. ^ nnrncltgi^ Am,m0d Ot Thdm. Mk. m. USZ IKS: P.
Ora«. sfDratid l4t»3»\ Her. b. H«tcer. Attn Ufi » T>iM«Mm. m. «U.
LmhI. I«t4l: J.Sbnm. JUrfiaiVay^&Mllkn /iirfM. Pan UI; Ta. J
_... . 9 M critwv rnwnill G«b.
U ^VOm ^ A'iMMliMna. pp. saO. iMd..
IWt aMl HaJ. 8. C. MacpbenDO. Mtmontit -f Sarin U ImJtm. rp. WO,
Loud.. 1800. The Isiter'i KcauDt of ibe reUgioa of tfae Kt-onds i* l« K- lak-
m wiib exlmne csniion. Briefer i>olioei> may be fimnd ia Joor. Aslbropi
Ifitt, vol, 4. sad in tbc lad. Aatiqu&r;, Paru X, XIII, LXX .
Thibe* dp AdJiIcoit Ut-AKiM. — By far ibe mmt (sMDpItU descrintioa of
lb« wild tribe of Ceflon is in Pmt. VtrcJtow'v. Die Wrddiu nm Cri«»a, pp.
IS3. IlFTlin. iVUl. Sec also T/u I'edttat, bj William GoooMiUekr. edilor td
Ibe (?™n(-»&X. Ceylon. toI. I. Part II.. aod Tht ftVrfrf.i*. bv R F. Harts-
borne, lod. Am. Fan XCIX. The tribes of the AndanuiDftbave been d«»crib(d
br: Q. E. Dol«oii, Tie Andaman* and A'tdamantm. Jour. .\aU>rap. Iutt,.
Val. 4: E. II. Man, Ab-iriffiiul iHAabUaaU ef Ihe Andanuiii Iiiaitd*. do. Vol-
IS, Nm 1-8 and vol. 14. No.H.—Uie best popers yet wrilien—; Prof. Flow-
er, UiUiAigy 1^ On Andamanae. do. Vol. 14 So. 2; M.V. Portman. The A»d*-
man iJaiuU and Andamanttt, itiox. R. A. S, Vol. Xtll. Fart IV. Tbe pot
ulation of Ihc HaldlTe« bas been very fully treated by IL A- P- BeU '"
MiMltf Idaiui; pp. 138, Colombo. 1868.
LINGUISTIC KOTKS,
r ALBERT S. OATBCHET. WASHINOTOK.
I
T TiilHR AMD Lakduaoe. — A cotnmillee has been appointed in
Ciiiula for tlie purpose of invesilgating aad publishing reports oo ibe pliys-
Icul rhxracler. iHnguHges and condition of ilic northwudiem tribM. As a
niumlicr of iliis coDiiuillce. Hr. Horatio Hale lia» made b report upon tbe
IlliH^kfuot Iribu, and an nbatmct of il was printed in ibi- Proceijdlnpi of th«
Brlti-li An-oc, (or Ilie Adv. of Science. Aberdeen meeting. SepL 1B85. (13
iiitK''"). Tlio Mun dance with itB revolting fcntures of self-torlure still lui«
ItB fiiNuMc iidliereniN among tbe Blackfect and geDemlly among the tribes along
Ibo wi^Ht nlilt'of Lbi! Ituck^ Mountains. Mr. I^b's report is largely lM3cdu|>o&
the n-porlit of locnl inve^tUgiilors, as tbeexccllenl Fatlicr Lacnmbe. who beat
In ■ Hki'ti'li uiion iliu iinguii deliiea of Ibe tribe with oilier information of tlia
most vtirluil ilMtTitiiion. Ithickfoot contains many vociibles which are not oc-
curring ill tliu ciLsluru Algonkln dinlccta, allbough ita affiuily with that b_.
cannot be duubteJ. These ililTereDces and coincidences arc shown in labulM
form ns rcsiirds numerals, pronouns and substantives. Mr. Halo farora I
LINOmsnO NOTES. 187
idea llint ilicae -irnrds diScring from cnslcrn tlialecis ma)' come from some Inn-
giiaice of iiDOthcr stock, Hod that IIb jrassessora were porbaps dlspluccd or con-
quered bv ihc Qtnckfuct and titeir laoguags absorbed br them. Before we
lake to sucb a hypotliesie, we liuvc tu kaon tind examiae tlial language mr>re
clos(.-1]'. These siraiigo i«rmB may be purclj Algonkin; Uie wctlern diiilecli,
OB Clicycnne, Arnpalio aod Bliickfoot. may contalo words which are none tlie
les:t Algonkin. nllhoiiKb the CorrespODdiag forms may have been whollv ob-
liu.-rutt^a io Ihe Noriheastero and Southeaslcm represcDtiilivcs of the atock.
KwAKiuTi. Lascjuaob.— Aninteresting liltlo publicnlion la the Imaslnlioa
of the Gospel of Ht. John into the Qagfltl IsDguage of British Columbia, print'
eil for Uio British and Foreign Bihle Society, London, 1SS4, I6mo.. 101 pages.
The anouyniaua author (if It. ttev. Alfred J. Hall, does not indicate wliicb
dialect of thd extensive Kwakiull fflmily he imroduccs; dialects of It are spok-
en upon tlie nortbeaslern eliorc of Vancouver Island and on the mainland as far
north as the Kilimat River in 54 Lai. It seems to us that Uall uses the sign of
length (or macron) too often, and that he should not employ it to show the nc-
centuatlon of the wonit. The passage of Bl. John. IV, 7. ti, reads as follows:
grammar of the ancient language of the Florldian Peninsula, composed by
the Franciscan missionary. Fr. Fareja. The Tolumc consisted of 80 leaves
(ISO pages) printed, and of 75 leaves of manuscript in the handwriting of the
Padre himself, with some additions by a later author. The title in the printed
portion shows thai the printing had liecn done or begun in Mexico In 1614 and
that previous to this, another cdilion liad been ifened (compueslo y de nuevo
eacado H \\iz). of which no other trace is left to us. Tlie lucky flader brought
the umall-sized volume lo Paris and had it copied and prepared for the press.
Messrs. Lucien Adam and Julicn Vinson nnaertook the task of editine (hin
precious relic of Florldian antiijuityi just now it has left the press of Malson-
neuve & Co.. Parts, under the title; ".IrtflrfffA Lengau Timr<griiHa compuetio
en leU par tl P. Franeiteo Ftir^'i. e(f.."Parig, 1885, 8 vo. XXXI and 182 pages.
The preface by Prof. J. Vinson contains within the limits of SI pages, some of
the moat nccessarycthnographic notlccH upon the Inbes speakmg Timucua,
ulihough a great dciil more historic itialtcr has been ascertained concerning
!ho^ southern populations. Three lexis are added lo the preface. The gram-
mar iiiielf is an extraordinary Jumble of rules, exceptions, paradigms, exam-
ples thrown out pell-mell in the greatest disorder; not Ihe editors, but Uie
auttior Pareja hirascif. is to be held accountable for this disorder, and ii will
require heroic efforts from future linguists to discninngte the present chaos
and unite into one organic body, with the help of the existing texts of the lan-
guiigc. these dugeeta membrn. The enormous complexity of that language was
evidently loo much for the venerable Padre "to see through it,"
AlTEC Langcaoe. — Mr, Antonio Peilaflet. Director of llie department tor
EtaliBlics in Mexico, lias a few months ago issued us a goTcmmcnt puhlica-
lion, Ihe "Arte Mexicans" of the .Jesuit father Antonio del Kincon, fln<t pub-
lished in Mexico. 1995, and dedicated by Iho author lo the bishop of Ttaxcal-
Ian. This republication forms a handsome quarto of 114 pages; Ihe preface
beare date; ■'August 1883." This grammar is of special value, not only be-
cause it exhibits the forms of the Nahuatl in its earlier siBge. as spoken soon
after the conquest; liul also an account of the Indian parentage of the autlior,
bom at Texcuco and Ihe desci'ndant of the ancient rulers of that pueblo. The
dialect of Texcuco was considered once lo be the most elegant and refined of
the Nnhuail family, according to a notice found in fi Mexican historian of
that epoch. A prolonged study of Ins native liinguage (luring len years en-
abled our Padre lo lay down In writing lis rules as embodied in his Grammar.
A short vocabulary is appended lo the "Arle," in which ho frequently differ
from Molina, the standard lexicographer, in phonetics as well as In iledni lions:
188 THE AMJ:RI'CAN XNTIQUARIAN.
hereby the value of del Rincon's vocabulary is materially incrcaf'ed, for these
variants Will lead the more critical students to a deeper study of the language.
Wr. Pefiafiel places tbe woik edited by him for the importabce of its contents
upon the same scientific level as tbe Aztec grammar of A. dc Olmos (I54'i') and
that of'H. Carochi (1645). § Mr. Pefiaflel has also .republished the old gram-
miar of the I'armkd language by Basalenque.
Mexico —In tlie ChucJiona language of southern Mexico, of which the
Tlapanec is a dialect, we have an old catechism by Father Roldan; a new
edition of it is now being prepared by M r. Uyatinthe de Charcncey.
C0LUSIBIA.N States.— Manuel Uribe Angel has published in Paris, 1885, a
volume entitled: Geografia general y compendio historico del Estadode Antio-
quia en Columbia, with 783 pages of text, two maps «nd 34 plates, Ethno-
graphic notes will be found on pp. 505-524 and three vocabularies of the dialects
oaiicd Catio-Citarae spoken in tliat state, pp. 525-547. In the plates are figured
many objects manufactured of gold, stone and other materials.
KoGOAB.\ is a language belonging to tbe Columbian states alfo; it is with
several cojjnatc dialects, spoken upon tbe n ortbeastern 'uorder of the United
States of Colun^bia, in tbe state of Magdalena, near tbe precipitous beigbt^ of
tbe Sierra de Santa Marta. Its existence was scarcely known . outside of its
neigbborbood. before Mr. Jiafad Celedon, professor in Santa Marta publislied
a grammar and texts of it, whicb hav« just appeared at Maisonneuve «fe Co..
Paris, under the title: Grammatica de la lengua Koggaba con vocabolanos }•
catecL<»mo8, por el presbitero R. Celodon, Paris, I8S0, 8 vo., 34 and 127 yages.
Valuable additions to-the volume are the ethnographic and geograpliic intro-
duction, worded m a fluent and attractive style, and the vocabularies of the
cognate and vicinal dialects of Gunmaka, Chimila ana Bintukua, all of the
Carib ox Oalibi family and relateci to Goajira, a language spoken furtlier on to
tbe northeast. About 120Q vocables are making up tbis Koggaba-Spanish vo-
cabular}', * .
PoLYKfesiA. — The dialect of the Peleio Islands, of Which materials and docu-
ments were lately obtained and collected by Mr. Semper, will soon be published
in Germany by JDr. Med. Uhle. gFrom tlie manuscripts of F. A. von Roep-
storlf, a BritisU officer of Danish parentage. Prof. G von der Gabelentz ha^
published a vocabulary from tbe Nicibarese Islands, which language prooves
to belong to tbe Malay-Polynesian family.
Law Code of the Kretak Goutvna. — This is the title of ian article r>f 2ft
pages contained in tbe "American Journal of Arcbagology," 1885, p. 32-i-350
by Augustus C. Merriam, of wbich tbe sequel is expected in oexi number.
It gives the text of tbe celebrated insoribed stones, found in July, 1884, by
Dr. Ilalbberrr on tbe site of the ancient Gorlyna. which in antiquity passed for
being one of the earliest Dorian settlements of Krete and rivaled Lyttos in tbe
fidelity with which it clung to the institutions of its early days. The inscrip-
tums contain paragraphs on tbe ownership of slaves, on rape and assault, on
adultery, divorce, widows' rights, division of property among children,
heirs at law and partition of property. If we accept the common Greek be-
lief, that the first code of law^ reduced to writing among the Kretans was
that of Zaleukos. 660 B. C, we have an upward limit for the inscriptions,
which are worded in the most archaic style of ancient Doric. The alphabet is
oldest known to us among tbe Greeks, all letters being of PhoBnician origin ex-
cept Y. In the extremelv difficult interpretation of tbe text the commentators
have already made considerable progress.
The Puinciplk of Analogy, well known as one of the most powerful agen-
cies of linguistic decay, has been exceedingly prolific in fom^in^ what is
called irregularity in language; but in many instances it has also iciven uni-
formity to certain morphologic forms, which in tbe later stages of the develop-
ment of a language frequently appear as regular fortns. A thorough study of
Die effects of analogy in a language is possible only where dialects exist wad
where the language is known to us through its ancient and historic phiiaea. In
his *' Etude," Victor Henry, professor of philology in Douai, Fnhoei diateiH
«.«mIoi;j-. MoUservoJ ID llie cl:i35ic, m^'diii'val iind ranilorn Greek (Uioiigb
■■...! I .■ . ..ii!rij*ls <mui lilt; iiiiUill 10
iiii-,].! hscnminttmoruiinpcir-
I .1 r>ipiU. Tko full iltIu ot
■ I. . . H. Vi.'iiif llenry"8 £lu(La »ur
! ■■ ■- ■! - li : >1 . I -lii ;■■■ I..I1II i;i,.ii- I'iil.'^.ijML-? lie 111 l&tizuc grccqitCi
l.irr- M ,j-i-,rii,oiive.t f.>., rt v(., VI "iiil HI [i;ii.'e>. Tn tliosIiiclenUof Am^r-
ii Ni I. i:iL;Li:i;;r.'4 H.itiry Is favorably known tw sn itivesiltriilor o*[ liypi'rborean
I ri.ji, ■- , ..'siH^cinlly of ilie Ale-uiinn Bnd also aa tlio nutUoc o[ a eiuilr upon
IN' \1 Ml \ !;.i 11^ \ I 1 [■ iMi-liL'1.1 fnr almost gmiiiiloiM
.' ■■:iiraiKiiryiilnyii. lia^ now
■. itH>iit72p4gu-4 in nclavo.
■- i._ I r iii'Irii Riv. wbmi' womJpr-
■;.>.! ,' ■ritiirv bef.irn Clmsl
I ■ ■ ■ I ■ III ' ii ' ■ ■ i; :' i.itHi viTses, liut iL«
■ ■■ : . . ..!■ u.l'll n i- : -'ll.J.l/l:,..:,' ', "l llol" 11,1.^' il'ldl-'a.l^ll, (^
lUIl Aokn-- or ili,ili'lii (oiiipk-ui. nutro in fiirr, tliim thi> i,wj gn^nt Horai-rlc
mcmii pui lo^^lbcr Wlicn [liU prixlifclou^ amoiiut of trunaluiion is llnl^hod,
Mr. Protuj) inUnils to publisli in llio stiino manner Uio Itnmlynnu.
ETimOQBiPHlC NOTES,
(.OAT8C11KT.
.ABKA.— A Hiimmury of fill lliut is impofinot [n know uljout
n couolry wliusu nruii e(|ii>ila tliree lirne.i Uml of France, is ci>d-
s tttf. recent govcrDmcnt pubilcalinn at llii: Census Olllcc: Ttcpori on
jnilnllon, Inilu^rncsftudResoiirtFaDf AlHskn; Wnshinston, 1884, Quut-
llW pagex. Tlic auibur. Ivan PtitrolT, spvciut Agcuiof ibo Census Bttreaii
TeWeinotepiirLiof our terriwry. bus passwl raany yenra of Ilia evtiiitlul
Inintestlgnting Ihecooats us well as tlieiiukunnn itiimnr of ilic Hpnrsely
*■<, bnl intercating couolry. Althougli PelrolT la n forcijjner iiad desccnd-
||d( an IraereliiiD family of the Caucasus, Ue writes Englisb witb Rrvnt coso
' ..., TLe volume IE richly illuMmlcdwitli mnps and colorcl plcturei
^_Balug Inndacapea And groups of Indiana from Lis own p«adl. In llie
JC'cbftpUr tbs progress 61 tbc number of populBiion is traced from the cnrli-
rt ItniofRn ccnsuaes or esiimaies (1S18 and 1S19) to (he census of 18^0, wliicli
ntriliil of 83.420. This loUl ismadt; up of 430 whites. l.TStt "Creoles".
: l-:skItuoB, 2.115 Atouia. 3.U27 Alhahnsknos, 0.768 Tlinkits and 788
,« nil PrincB Wftlw lalnnrl, commonly cnlted Kalituni. The eslimiiles of
' ■! iicnil HiiHtdi iind of Rev, VincunC Collycr of iSflS are aliowu to I*
'i>i> 40-41). Special attention is paid to the resuurces
:l for iadiistries and commerce, as the aciiU. Aalicrles.
iitiure. Follows A lypogrnpliic sketch of the country
I' n^(;lonB. uruptlons). a treatUe upon what U koowu ou
..!.,> ...i ^I'.^iross of (lUcfiTcrvi and the conHudiog secttoa tronts of
I, Ali'UU, Athnlia»kins(orTina')ftnil thriTlinkIt ^4 to their ctli-
la<tafltBClcr>siicd: orlgla, uumbei^, government, rcliflon iiQd licUef^
190 THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN.
manners and customs, division of time, etc. By studying carefully the writ-
ings of bis predecessors on Alaslui and combining their results, when ac-
ceptable, with those of his own researches, PetrofP has produced a report which
deserves to be placed among the standard works upon that distant country.
From the time of its acquisition (1867) until now, Alaska has repaid orUi^ in
reventies to the government nearly two- thirds of the purchase- money of seven
millions of dollars, and the profits of commerce and industries have been, of
course, immensely in excess of that amount.
Stoll's Guatemala. — The interior of Guatemala and its people arc not so
well known to the outside world as they deserve to be ior their quaintness.
The people are so curious, naive and * 'natural," that we often have to put the
question, *'to which degree has civilization succeeded in expelling barbarism,
and how far has barbarism encroached upon culture?** A Swiss physician.
Dr. Otto Stoll. has sojourned in that country, especially In the western districts,
from 1878-1883 and in his recent Germ.m book: "Guatemala, Reisen und
Schilderungen" Leipzig, F. A. Brockhaus, 1886. 8vo. pp. 512 with tables,
map<* and many illustrations, tells us in graphic language all that he saw and
heard. The late President Barrios and his aeleterious influence upon the state
is sketched at length and in an unmistakable spirit of indignation, and the reader
becomes thoroughly posted up upon Guateinaltec h'story up to the most re-
mote periods. Special attention is paid to the European element of immigra-
tion, among which the Italians, called there "Tyrolese," seem to Ix; conspicuous
and well-nbused: to the foods and drinks, to the communal government, to the
minenil riches, to the culture of cotton and indigo. to the schools and hospitals,
etc. Many chapters deal with thf" Indians, their condition, government, lan-
guages, sorcerers and it was mainly to study this element of the population,
that Stoll expatriated himself for the lapse "of five years. The result of these
studies he published in another important book: "Zur Ethnographic der Re-
publik Guatemala", Zurich 18S4. ftvo. pp. 180; it forms a true cyclopedia of the
ethnography and linguistics of the Guatemala Indians.
TusCARORA. — The indefatigable investiijator of local Pennsylvania and New
York state history, Mr. ^. // Guss, in Washington, has just communicated
the advance shet;t8 of one of his articles to be inserted in a forthcoming histor-
ical description of Juniata nnd other counties of Pennsylvani.i. Tlie title is as
follows: Early view of the Pennsylvania interior — The Juniitta and the Tuncn-
rora /y<(/iVi/?i»— Explorations of the Indian traders, (pp. Jb7, large 8 vo. ) The ar-
ticle IS based entirely on documentary evidence and gives pro^if of diligeni. re-
search. The Tusciiroru Indians, he states, did not after their defeat in North
Carolina come north at once to join the Five Nations; they <*ame in detached
fragments for at lenst flfty-flve years, and a part of them, who were sojourning
for many years in the Juniata valley, are historically known to us as Juniata
Indians.
-o-
NOTES ON CLASSIC ARCHEOLOGY.
Pottery from Naucratis. A selection of pottery from Naucratis has beeu
sent by Mr. Petrie to the British Museum. It includes fragments of vases,
ranging through at least 800 years, forming a most valuable commen-
tary on the vases of Rhodes, especially Camirus, and the early art of Ionia.
On the oldest, the desiiin is painted on a pale yellow ground, like those found
bv Mr. Wood in the earliest stratum at Ephesus under the temple of Diana.
The specimens with figures and animals in crimson and other colors on a pale
ground are very similar to early vases from Camirus and lalysus, animals and
lotus-patterns predominating in the subjects, with occasionally the human fig-
ure. An interesting find in connection with these is a large fragment of the
shell called IVidachna sqtiamom, on which are incised patterns of an Aaiaile
origin- This shell is not found in the Mediterranean, but belonics to the Red
Sea and Indian Ocean. Specimens simitarly ornamented have been fouBil i^
Assyria, Palestine and Etruria. The discovery at Naucratia adde
link lo the clinln. nmi tlit concliiaion is Datura] ihnl lliey arc nil imporlaiious
i<r (Jill I'liii'oii'i.'in- liv liade routua of llio Red Sen, au<I Uiuni'o carried KtEt-
■■■"i II. C. Bliwiat.
ii'Tt^st nri' Rgurra in Iimcsiciiie, ninbnsler, iiml icrm colta,
- or Cyprus, oihera purely Orpclt. others Grteco E^p<ian.
livtmediale «iylv sucli as ilint already recosolzed in the
-. I'ut In this ciiH diflitiHly iiiulvr Egypliun InQuence.
Tlioi- kliMiiiiiifs lifurly poiul lo commcr(.-inl reinlions nl n very early njti! wIlU
Xileiua anil oilier nlica on the WMt const fit A>in Minnr ami neighboring
uJuhJii. completely oondrmln^ ilio account oC Uerodnitis and other aurjeal
»iimr.t.. ipf iin' .■piiiMishmem o[ NuucralU uodtT liie Suilo kings us un empor-
■■ - ' lU'lleiilo imde.
''luble discovericii nf lliis perloi] of grcnl nciivity in linnt-
ryr loseripUona, is ciitit o)a<lo by Dra. Halhlicrr and pHb-
"'• the site of llie ancleDL city uF Gitriyna, in Crec*. It
bk'B uf Iitw9, iuscrilH'd on Oit- inner wall of an ediHce of
I' r-. V. [iiiiii iiiriiiiv iijHiii ilid Bionea of ilio wall, which
;,..Lir ,.iiuiii. i:i(-li it.iilu conslating of 68, M, or
■ ■( ~i\^r, \ !\i:\ii In li'ft. lefi lo right, iu nieces-
II MH i.i iiiL' iili.liiiljui litfore Ilio intn^luciiou of
':!■■ U ipiiilii.lily Lclouya tn ii period jib enrly lu Solon, and
J(tiiiii& lo Uie lulUr liull iil lliu sevcnlh eeuliiry, B. C. All nnli<]iiily Inoknl
VOm* a* Ilio tmrrnt nf niiieh that wna lield from Iraililloo. nnil especinliy
p> tut ihe eaFO wiUi law, Minos lo ihem was not t>nly the helmsninn of a
MMW, bm the founder of iheir system of luws, those rislii!* wlikli liu
a bf bis nine y(^u« Inlitnney with Zeus at Gnoasua Even our n^veresi
■ btellDB to bclicva th«t Lycurgiis drew larffriy from Crete In lii<^ litiiKln-
B,iub«r rewlablishiDg;, howoTor, the ancluiit Dorimi dlMiipline. which had
mnUiBCd with iTrealcr fldelily in Crete, than eleewliero. The preecnl
k b mir inHanptlua deals aliogetker with raultcra of prlrale kw. ininsuc-
II in refcanl to blares, flues for rape nnd adnl lery. rigliid of tlie wife who is
orcMl. the expostn-e nf ehildrcn if born after divorce, rlplita of piitenta
W ihelt property and that of ebildren. diviaion ef properly at death ot parent.
but of ehildru) it horn of parents in difTerent eonditioua of life. Ihe must
^""^ deHaitions cor the marriage and properly of heiresses, their jtiiurdinns
!triBg If ininort, provision to meet cases wlierc a persou dies with his af ■
> eDiugled liy lawsuitd or cii;:agementH of certain kinds, ilie amount of
lean may fcive to his mother, or a huslumd to his wife, regulstions for
jKion of sons and their tiiccesslon to the property, nnd n numhrr nf
V prorlsiona, all of whicti give us a view of ancient Cretan life, and snclk
^ttm Athens with all of its literature does not band down lo us of her own
II, «ilh the same minulin of detail. The dialect of the inecripliun ia of the
<t Cretan, and one seeniB to be makioK hia way through a thicket in au
li region. Vew words and new u^^esof wonle. ae well na new forms.
31 ihe reader at every point, and a siudicd brevity of expresaion renders
til tumprefaensioD do easy task.
« Homeric Theory ndvnneed by Prof. Fort^hhammer is Ihat the Iliad de-
aiBOt Uio cla»h antl grapple of Ihe helmcled warriors, but the winter slrifo
RllKtlfimefila. eapeeially of the !?camuDd<-r and Slmois; that Ihe burning of
^yitpracDted the lottil evaporation of the flood in reidsummer; and quotes
^.. anowCT the ■djcctivea, the "eloud gathering." "returning mist." ''tlood-
^■olaSn*." ••thundcrboltdnrtingZeus." '-Hera, wrapped in a cloud," 'Pallas
"vkaif wiih the Aegis (wave"). &c. The dlscoveiy of the skulls of the Tro-
^■Ml tbereliea of Troy, docs not seem lo have shaken this opinion wb<ch
*•• bribed Home tlfty yean; ago.
i UTTKit (rtiui A.|iiiU. in Ihe Abruzzi. lells us that nn Italian Arehieotogi-
ol l&iiu C'jiiii>ii-Fkiu haa Just visited Sallust'a birthplace, the site of the old
SWiti tuna I'l Aiiiiiernutu. and has recomnietided Ihe Oovernmont lo resume
aM (usipirti.- till* i-xcavalious eominenced soma years ago. At that time a
Ponka III the ilicatre and itH surroundings were brought to light. It was a
"Watcnkr nruciure with siono aedts. h;veral in^criplioos aud much onm-
JftOi »ock. With <:arvod pillu», vaults, and a stone ataircaeo, wero parttolly
aiicovi.Ti?d. B^ i> Bin)tutar frctk of rliniico UiU Ilimtre wl Uio gt<Mler pnri f
the olJ InWn were covered up liydebni and accuiniitation of •oil, Wbito C
nmpilliMiire. wliicli Is otiljr a few liuadred p«cc3 rtisunt frcm flie Ihaittip
nuined expnsed ti contn)m ibe rffr^tsof tituc. Its sinicliire romtJiiS'i
icrod aiid wcntlier-bcnlei). bDt sllll foiposing. Ira elliptical rnta U uow a c<
fleld. wtierc llie btirve^ i» re};ubifiy wwn sad ptther«d. All ai-Aund Maud i
lilgli mouutnJDS of (|ie Alirutxi. not far from Amiiernun tbere is id
vtllcr a'cyclnpem wall, on whitb ti hIaIi itm fiiund wiUi tlic Iiucrtpttn
oeis S>iib)iir,niin." thv liouadnry of IlicSnbinef. — Ijandta TVuifj, JuutfL
LITERARY NOTES.
The Minir.^ aurl SetfKtifie Pre** for Afml 10 litis iin ilhislr.ned artLc
lecendnry lore of the Pueblo IndiaiT, Hiecluirt enaininloz ilie hUioryof tJUl
tribe B8 fnitcHbcd ii[h>d n aand?tnne ctiff in NorlbwMIera Ari/.ton wns fnil'^
fully copied by Col. R. T . RobiDsou. TUU chart is given in ilic cm nod n ta
in it is also coulaiiiCd in llic paper.
Mr. T. H, LEwnthoa tiren cxplnrlDj;' moiniU* ii) Kentucky and Bnulli
Ohio during tlie winter. He li-ta collected many intcrcs*in; and ntloillilo 1
ics, Rmnas lliem tlic followioxt 14 hematite skinning knives or cells. I
smallest one being less IbiLn an Inch 13 length, nnd the larges about six iuot..,,^
long, n rather unusual size; three hcinitt'u pluramets. one findy polished;
three hematite ^inkc^a; these have a f^oore around the center; one slouc tube,
use unknown; one small pipe, an'l one slone fhutile; four ivdzes; one stone
aX : six stone skionine knives, one so-called badge; one alone cliisvl and it
number of other implements, including; a due sps'irhead mx incites Ions *> '
nearly two inches wide. Tbe best specimen in liio lot is a imall copper nx.
is about two and one half inches in lenKlU and over an inch in widib. "
per implements arc very rarely found in this region.
EMntKMAriC MoL'KDS tK MtKNESOTA, — Hr. Lewis alw, during the i
mer of 188S. explored n large number of mounds iu Soulhcm Minnesota. He
found some of Ihcm to be embleoiatic. aironc lliemono reprcscntins nn nr-
row or spear htad: another represents a pipe, and a third nn animal lying on
its side. He h]u also discovered four others which are aerpcniine in form, pt^
ore mounds with serpeniine em'jankraeniH running out Irira (heoi. "" '
have round bends and the fourth an oblong one.
The F^iTPTLUi Onioi.s or azn Alpii^dbt, Is the subject of apnperreadU
the New York Academy of Science, Decemli"r. 1:85. The nutlior lakes lit
ground that the science of roediclne, Ibe art of making glass, tbe beeinniiigs of
architecture, and the alphivbe'. are all to be traced to the Ei^pliana. "The
art of painting the articulations of the human' voice" is by Banchoniatlio as-
cribed loThoLh. the Ejrypiian Mercury, while Tacitus aiys. "the Egyptians
were tho llrsi who represented the miail by Iho tiguntt of animals." ■■*■
"Thatolher nations derived tbeir letters from Uie Egyptians is proved 1.^ _
inscription of Kimies IL, recording the treaty betweeu him and the HittiU
The writing an the Monbile slone is intermediate between the Pbteniciaa 1
the Egyptian. It is the olUcst form of tho Semitic.
Tub EoTpriAS ExpixiRATios Fusn.— Two volume* Iwe \fxn \ .
Trubner&Co., entitled, the one Pilhom. ami the other Taiii*. Uaity int
estlnc discoveries have l)ecn made. KxpUnnlions will lie continued bill Ihf
is a demand for more money. Rev. Wm. Winslow. Deacon Street.
la Ibe Vice Pres't of llic fund for this country. It isdesimbin Ihnlni
be furnished. The solution of many interesting problem
™lb
B on
•dlJM
5 ilw'^
sxplora
srlupa fxitn* ot utir rcmlcra
known In liave <:
iny li? "bio to coiiiritiulu (Auts Uiarlng c
■ 1*1, 1 1: IviTKn STATB3 0K AiiKH(cA.— An in-
; ■! Iiy Rev. W. T. Lath-SE^rmii, of
I ' I III! " ifntm and (Jiterlos " of Loudon nod
i'iii\ '<: i'i\ i:l>, im to llic qiieslioo which is Ihu cbief
>l>.-..r Uk' ii.-i t: iM'nnrcllicrs of Ihc Uniled R(Dt«s of
iluiainritvui'or riy>ii<yuili. (n« being llie Hiy (nr town) of Sir
ikp; of Sir Wnlttr HuWali (ilinfonniler of Virginia), nnd lo «)m«
,__« Pilgrim Fathers (who i-allijil Npw Plymouth nfliT Ibnl port,) bm
jlfnttion OS to lliG pos&it)ic rliiims of other Kuropenn towns, em. Tlie
Jttoof inicrmt lo AtHeri<'Hn4. iind probably nillexeit^ some dobnie. It
I tw uf lntcr[:fit AH nKntnd t«rcentennr70f tlio Defost itf iliu Spunisb Ar'
HmU boin^ projfctfd at PIvinoulb for 1U8S, iind probably Americiin ciliKi.-Q3
I Ik! invited lo pirtiripatc in it. (ns of interciit to iliem an well ns lu Bug-
BOOK REVIEWS.
fTlii- coiincctio-.' links holwpon tlie Old Teslamt-nC nnd Iho New ore bnuebt
f>t l»j tLl? iiiiLT(>siini> vi'liime. XLTxe*!, Alejrnndcr the Orcni, Piolemy I, An-
lu*. Epipliaiin'f, were tlie herops of llic {wriorl. Tbc Septnatrint. the
■ ■i,:i[iii;,, it,..T!iri.-iiiii, niid Tittmiid. nnd llic writinpt of Pbiln conMilute
TliL' Alexandrian School, ibc Hcllenisis. ibi< Phar-
: i 'i- Gumulipliind Hillcl were Hie insimctors. The
> >T<< auch n<t Iho Jews derived from the Old Teat*-
. . . i>r Greek philosophy and various traditions, inven-
rixj >. x[fjrnid history wns as follows: 1st. B*byloDiiins
* rl'ic'L' I'l K'rslanE; Sort. Penions lo Oreeks; 3rd. Greeks to Bfyntinns:
Ei^t'thins lo Syrians; and 5lh. Syrians to Romans; live dlstlnot
litntORii. Through nil Iht- cbsngtis the Jews were dependent and sub-
^l toother nniiona. The c"niing of Christ was aniicipaied. The awak-
Pu>S oT mind nuislde of .Icmanlcm, hy the ilevclnp'nnnt of On^k phttogophy,
^ laierminclin^ of the nntinns Ibro-igh worldwide conquests. Ibo intro-
MiM nf Homjin ciiliiire iho siipreninry of Ihe Aryan race over the
oWo Mock. "Japbel enmms lo dwell in ilio tents of SlieRi,"a1l pte-
'~ '' t way for the i<pmid of ohiistlanity which 14 A* modi n Enro-
^'"miA'wmic Tlie siyle of ilio' ScHpiiin* ebitnK«l hecauao
g^il cluinjjcd. Tbo clcnr and logical style which to rt'scmbleil
a libt MClinol, took the place of the Oric'ntnl imagery. An ont-
g tlME cf Demiathenes or Clc«ro. look Ihc place of tlio old pro-
And BO i*E Imve the tmnsilioo. Tbc hook brinits out IheM points
Mni^htful one. enrefully prepared, free from speculuiion. full of the
c spirit wllhoutgrent pretensions lo originnlily or atlcnipling any high-
THS AXKRICAK AKTIQUABIAK.
anity a nniverwil rehfpoa sopplanUiil Jutlaisai wbicli was msirj; an eiliuical
faiiu. There was, howerer. a devetopoieat ami hrrc we sec the Iidc of devel-
opment. TUe tliouf;bt wbicb. io llie tUyn nf Halaclii wok beueaUi tli« stirfiie«
is trneed like an underground Mrenm uniil it mmes oul agaia in Ckrisl. There
■re steps on which one may walk In the inid«l of thi«sit««n aoit ibc book
may be regarded a* a Inmp wliidi points out Ihe steps. It i^ a veiy f«luab1e
guide and may help us to undet^UiDd ilie Oj^pel. ispcciiilly as it ■» connecicd
wt'.li Ibe law ttud the proplicts.
Piindit Fonad. or the Cndle uf tht Utman Una at the Sorth PJt. A. EKidy
of tlie pre bisloric world. b7 ^V[I.LIA1I P. Waakke, S. T. D , L. L. D.
BoMoD. Iloughiou &, MifltlD. 18S5.
Columbus atmoitncnl to his royal pilrons hi« cuppowd Uisoovery uf " tlie
atcent to the gale of the Iod£ lost 'Oanlcn of EJen. Thi* gale in Iba mind ot
Coliirnbus. was in America. So Dr. Wiirrca announces to the royal (kinlurs
of tliia duy Ihut he liai discovered Ibe garden itself. Init Ili« locHtion of th»I
garden Is near the aorlli pole. The curly map makers identified Piiradisu with
the Uluod of Ceyloa ami placed Ailam's peak in Ibal ivlaml. Dul this nev
map maker has located Ibc peak amonc the lev fleldsL lie bus Irnnoferrcd nil
the tnulllions wliich have ever clustered alx>ut mouDlaias. from 'he south
to the north and then thrown Lock irte el/iry into llie pre-bislo.icaire when lb«
north pole had the climate of the Torrid Zone, Tlie rai^rutioii of prehistoric
man not from the mountains of Thibet hut from imaeinary mouotaitu located
among the ice fields where DeLong and his crew suffered for so many da)'s.
The rooUof Ilinl mountain bavcdlsiippearcdso thalgeologists seek for them
In vain. 'Still thecriist ottbceurlli imill ibe lime rising or sinking in a kind
of Xonian ryiUm," that of the north bos now sunk so that the existcQcc of tMe
mountain is not known. This w:i3 orliiually "the niivd of the earth."
A book mas written a few yeorsngi> by Dr.ThomnaBumeil. setting forlli tlie
theory that tbe earth was hollow and at Uio north pole thetw were Tust cavities
from nliicb the Deluge issued and rclurnctl- This book is tbe cunvcrw
It isainouniain and not a hole wbicb the learned writer is undcrlaking
to point out. Probably one theory Is as tnie i>s the olbcri that of Dr. Burnett
being well adapted to his limes and that of Dr. Warren adupled to bis. As «
resume of the Uillerent opinions of geoloitlsis and c^tb^ologistB, ibe book ia thI-
nablc. It is a treasure house into which ihc traJiliona nf nil nations have
been gathered . An immense number of facta have l>cen brought out by the
author though they do not s«cm to linve proved ibo point wbicb be lias taken.
We are glad to notice that he has quoted from the pages of Uic ANTiqcAHiAM
and bas frequently referred to the articles by Bev. O. D. Miller. D. D. These
articles have brought before our readers many facts concerning the Oun-Eden,
Tbe ancient cosmography, early symbolism, and traditions At the £ast. Dr.
Warren bas done a most excellent eervico In presenting bo muck informntion
about Ibese primitive traditions and his book will be sought for on this ac-
count. The novelty ot his theory has enabled him to stHrtle the world with
those very lliings about which others have been ttiidyiug and writing but nrere
not able Io gnm a hearing. Tbis is Ibc peculiarity of the work; a lucky hit
has been made liy the author's art of pulliag things.
I
, by Gec
: Rawli
and Frf/tmi Seme.
• '-— .. 1885.
Mr. Rawlinson is Ibe author of a whole lino of books wliich cover about the
samefield: The Ilcligions of the Ancient World, Historical lllattrationsof*
tbe Old Testament, Origin ot Nations, llistoryof Egypt. History of thu Five
Monarchies, etc.
This one on UgypI nnrl Babylon is hlti latest work. It brings the subject of
tbe confirmations of Scilpture down to Ibe latest dale: tbe recent discoveries
among tbe monuments having lieen utilized by (he nulhor and tbe books pra-
viousiy writieu being aupplemeuted by this. Like nil lUe works of Mr, Rawl-
lD8nn,'it is interesting nud for the roiiin part reliabtii
less And it a valuable resume of recent discoveries.
I
renders will doubt-
BOOK RBVIKWft
^Aneitnt Etyf4 ill Ihe Light ef Modern DlstK'tties. hv I'RnF, H. S OsUORXI
L. D. Cincinnati, RoU. Clarke & Co., ;8Sj,
Pror. Osborne, who is n crcat map mikkDr, i<i niso an Egyptol agist.
sof S
well known, but lila book on Egypt ia
i
. to present ancient Egyptian history iu n popular
lliain field tbni bus been bo iboroiigbly workeil i-< :i
American lo estnblisb n rpputntjon In. Ccrininly ho if ot
be looked for. Btill as n biBiory Ibu bonk la InluresUiiL:. i
ferUIbemoro ulabonilB prodiicliaug oF prnfcsxi^l \'.i\\
Ikbera buve niaile lUo voluoiu atinictivi,- iiml illusiraii^ J ii
uablc wood cuis.
), Professor of Creek,
Studin in Gmt TJiBugkl; Essn
in Yale College, Boston, Gi
A cTJlicnl and careful Btnily of the religion of ibc Greeks ia ilic cliameler-
fetic of this book. Tlie difft-Vent opinion* iirp rcvicwt.'d. nraoaK lliem Olad-
Mono's, namely, tbat it was n nnxiuro of lieathen worship unU forciRn no-,
Moiis wiib reminiscences uf lienibeu aupcrotliion nod anticipalUm of Cbrlsliaa
doctrine Kroicvqucly inlermingleil. Prof. Packard makea ibe Greek reltttion
to consist in nature worslilp but irncus It to the old Aryan fiiltli of ll)&
Tedaa. Tbts was modifled by local mvllm; each small coinmnnliy. sliiit m
Itiy ilB surrounding hilla developing lis own form iit worship, and atiaehinir its
own epilhet to the common nnme of tbe Ood of sky or tieii. anil perhaps delfy-
iDg its loc.ll bnro. Iu addition to Ibis. Ihe Orocks Ihroufib nn aoibropo'
morphixinfF tendency, went on and picliired to tliemsolTCS i-ncb God in distinct
aod beautiful form. Greek art grew out of Mylbolo^ry. Tbe Greeks made
thrir Goda in ibeir own ImnKC. The culmiomlon of ilie Greek
rellftion wa« in tbe monotheism which mnde Znus tbe supreme Ood. Olndstone
makes Apollo tbe type of Chrii't and thinks Hint the idea of the Suviour was
embodied in bim. i*rof. P.-.cknrd does not hold ibis opinion and yet bo main-
tnioa that tbe worship of Dionysus and Aphrortile. Ibe deification of two de-
SradlDf: sensual pnssions, wn? Inlrmliicu'. from other natious and adopt-
ed by tbe Greeks, IleanyBinconclujion. thit "cimp.irfid with OhrlstiBnity
in its hii;lic«t forms, compared even wllb Buddhism an(1 Mobnmmcdism in
some pnrtlculara, it appears wavering in lis conception of the Divine l)eing,
feeble in direct moral Infiucnce, and mucli loo tolcmnc of gross vice. "
■'./iwii/ C/-«i5.'(fto««B, by the Rev. Sir GedRUE W. Co". Bart. M. A, New
■' York, Harper & Bros,, 1885.
r The Greek Sintcsmen were very similar to American poliliclaua ;
£ivL'D 10 srliemlog and quite likely to be overthrown hy other
ecberoers. Tbis view of the Greek cuhurc is some-
wbai novel and yet It bus liceu impressed upon \» ns we have read the
interestinf skclohvs prepared by Sir Geo, W. Cox. Two volumes have been
imied : the first embracmg tbe period from Solon to Tbcmistoclcs : the scc'
ond, from Ephiulles to Ilermokratcs. Tbe publisbers hnve put these Into a
ver^ beautiful and attractive sliape. Our readers wit! certainly admire tbe
mechabicol execution and will be instructed by the conieuts of tliesc boolts.
Til Book of Daniel oe Ikf SiCBiid Volume of Prapkcry, by Jaubs O. MvitPHT,
L. L. D,, Andover ; Warren F. Draper. 1885.
Prophecy In a difUcull subject, for so much of history is thrown back into it,
tliatweareat a loss to know whether Iheianguage really Includes tbe events or
not. Very much as the character of Soso«tris with the magnificence of his
reiirn WHS Ibrovn back upon an earlier hero of tbe same name, so Ihe charac-
ter "if Christ is thrown Into tbe earliest periods and his figure reeogoized in
tlie frame work which these utterances liuve furnished, A better ideaot prophecy
Is ihal Ibere were types aprlnpng up all along Ihe line of history and that the-
[ development of character and ilie progress of religlnna life resulted in tho
I Christ, society having been organic, and tlie divine power having in tiiis way
I vorked Ibroiigh it up to holiness. Dr. Murphy has not quite reached (bis
t«
THE AMERICAN ANTIQUABIAN.
rint for Ue is slill on tlie old frro\in(l nnd Ireals propiiccy in lUe aUl sIjIp.
well, bowever, tliat llie Hcssiniiic idea is ki'pt sn proniiuent bjr ike author,
for otlierwisc tbere would be daoet^r of ignoring ihc CUrist alltogcilicr. Tba I
b<}Ok ie useful as it briuga ihe old iaterprulaUons iuio u sinutl compnu and pre- I
aenia tbcm in a fresli nud forcible muaner.
mtimsfrem lhiDuil,^<-tbt BihU Jlluitr.tlfU frem the Afi-»««ifH/j by Rev. J. N. I
Fradeoliuri;!]. A. M. H. D.. Ciucinnali. Cniuslon it Blowi^, 1880. '
Tbu contlnnation of Scrii>lure from tbo study of tliu raonumcnts. is llin ob-
ject of this book. The Biblii nccnuiit of tlic Civaiion, tbc Oariteu of £dcn, '
ibe llood. tlip dispersion. Nimrod. tha iniKiJly liunler. -•- - ^
immigralion of Abralnim. Cbedorlaemer, of Joseph . _ ,
his drcums. of Israel in I^gjpt, of Ihu Exodus ot Suunucberib, .
NebucbadncKtar and Babylon, is all rcvicwcil, nnd qunlalions from ancient au- i
Ihors. inscHpLious from llie monuments, aymbots. nod bisinrli'al uiliisions nrft I
set alongside of Itt^e events. As a reference book, in wbich many original J
passngcs may bo found, it will save the render ttia trouble of going over tlw
literature wliJcb Is so exieusivc. Ferhnps in tbia respect it is superior lo Rawt-
• insoQ's works called Ilistorical Illustrations. It is. Iiowevor. somcwiial frag-
mcDtsry and lacks ihe charm of a coonecicd narrative. The book is allmcllva 1
in appearance aud is Bnely illustrated and we hope may mt-et wilh n ready J
sale. Rev. Mr. Fradenburgh is one of the tiest Oriciitul sclinlars iu this cr--~
try. and has done himself much credit in tbe preparation of Ibis work.
Oiiliitits of Universal Ilhlaiy. dftigntii as n tfxl boot, nnd for frh-atc rinding, by J
Ckorde Pakk PiaaEU, D, D.. L. L. D , Protessorot Yale College. Ivison, T
Htakcmsu, Taylor & Co., New York.
This is s very scbolarly work; prepared Ijy one of llie best hislo'ians of .__
day ; it tfriugs liefore us ibe history of llie world in a small compass. It is full of
information and has this excelleacc that It is ai> to tbe times. It embraces Ihe
Arclucological discoveries inihe East, 1bo progress of Ethnology, Liui^istic
stvdiea, and recent iaveatigations in all departments, in the material from
which it draws. It (ouches upon comparative rettgions, physical and political
geoKrapby, mythology, the history ol philosophy, as well jib upon the events
which have occurred. Thu information is eundensed but the style is clear, t
We regard it as 6ne of Iho liest works on L'eiversnl History ever published. 1
The mecbanicul ftxecnliun is good. The book contains s series of maps 34 I
in numt>er. whichadil greatly lo iln value as tbcy show Iho changes which 1
have occurred and brlug before Ihe eye tbe poliLical slalu; of llic world at dif-
ferent penods.
i
THE
mcxxcmx ±xnxxan<ixv^n.
>^Vjl. VIII. Ji'Lv, 1886. No. 4.
THE SERPENT SYMBOL IN AMERICA.
One of the most interesting and suggestive topics for arch.xol-
^^S^ii^ts to consider is the serpent symbol. The interest is owing
tio the fact that it prevails so extensively. No symbol is more
common in oriental countries and few symbols are more
prominent in this country. The study of it, however, is attended
"^^ith some difficulties. The ver}- fact that it prevails so exten-
ely gives rise to many enquiries. The student is quite hkely
be diverted from the careful investigation by the number of
uiries which arise as he progresses with the subject. The
I^roblems become so numerous and difficult that he feels almost
ourdened with the importance of the subject. The fact that so
uch curiosity is awakened and so many enquirers wait upon him
«■ results, has however a tendency to urge him forward.
The serpent is as conspicuous in prehistoric as in historic
*mes, and the task before us is to explain how and why this
5^ the case. We find the tokens of the serpent a prominent
in primitive art, and the earliest forms of religion, pre-
^ling extensively in native traditions, and as a symbol proving
3 be widespread. The question is, whether its appearance in
^^istoric times, is the result of its prevalence in the prehistoric.
The serpent symbol in America is especially interesting. Here
'^ *s free from historic associations, has few of the accumulations
* civilized art, is unattended with the customs which have clus-
about it in the East. There may be, to be sure, discussions
*^ connection with it, and some may be inclined to trace the
^^'Tiibol to scripture lands and ascribe it to the scripture narrative,
^^-^^ the (act that it is found in regions .so remote makes it uncer-
^^^^^^ The value of the study of the symbol in America will be
^^^^ firom this circumstance. We may be able to solve impor-
problems by the means.
y^ e propose to consider the serpent symbol in America.
*- Its origin. Here there arise a number of enquiries. 1st, The
198 THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN.
appearance of the symbol in the East. 2d, The connection
between the tradition in the East, and the traditions of the West
3rd, The correspondence between the tradition and the sym-
bol everywhere. 4th, The mingling of the serpent symbol and
the sun symbol. Sth, Th^ enquiry is, whether serpent worship
was a widespread cult, or was something which was local. 6th,
Did the symbol originate in this country? 7th, Can the serpent
symbol in this country be said to be derived from the scripture
narrative. This last is perhaps the chief enquiry. It is a well
known fact that the symbol prevails in oriental countries, and
that the tradition of the serpent is common in the mythology of
all lands. The fact that the serpent appears in the traditions of this
country makes this enquiry all the more interesting. Sth, The ap-
pearance of the serpent amid the ornamentations of the palaces
and idol pillars of Central America suggests that the symbol was
highly developed, and by following the stages up to this point
we might learn why and how the serpent became so prominent
in Greek Art. 9th, Still further the connection between the ser-
pent worship and the phallic symbol is a fruitful theme and
might engage our attention throughout the whole of this paper.
We are controlled, however, by our limitations and must only
touch upon a few points and then pass on.
I. Lenormant, the French historian and archaeologist, explains
the *' Serpent in Eden" as follows: He says that the tradition
of the serpent, was seized upon by the sacred writer and embod-
ied in the narrative, but the origin of it was in pre-historic times.
He maintains that the symbolism of the garden of Eden w-as de-
rived from the serpent worship which had prevailed, and under
this symbolism an actual fact was made known. A new explan-
ation of the fall of man is given. It was a fall from potential
holiness, and not from actual holiness. The conscience of the
first man was designed to keep him in the true worship, and to
teach him about the true God, but disobeying this he fell away
into the various systems of nature worship and became ruined
by the fall. Serpent worship was a native faith, one of the vari-
eties of nature worship, but it was a very degenerate form of the
faith; the serpent itself became at length the embodiment of evil,
and the source of degeneracy.
On this point there mie^ht be a difference of opinion, and yet
if we take the association of the serpent with the phallic sym-
bol, wc can easily see how man would degenerate, and this
form of religion become the cause of his degeneracy or falL
Serpent worship in the East is certainly a source of evil, and
whatever we may say about its age and origin we must acknowl-
edge that there is a great contrast between it and the worshi
taught by the scriptures. In reference to the question whethe
the serpent symbol in America can be traced to the traditions of th
East, and whether there is any connection between the
THE SERPENT SYMBOL IN AMERICA. 199
ture narrative and this symbol a few words are appropriate.
The serpent symbol certainly abounded in the prehistoric period
in this country. If it was derived from the scripture it must have
been transmitted at a very early date. The symbol of the ser-
pent is here very rude, so rude as to almost convince us
that it originated on this soil. It might, to be sure, have under-
gone a degenerating process in its transmission, and yet the fact
that there is so much rudeness to the symbol and so many differ-
ent types manifested by it, would almost preclude this. The
picture giv^n to us by the sacred word, of the serpent and the
tree; is attended with the idea of temptation to evil, but the tra-
dition in y\merica has no such moral distinction.
The serpent symbol in America is not like the serpent in the
garden. It is not even like the sacred tree of the ancient Assyrians
and Babylonians though it has much more in common with that
symbol than with any picture of the fall. There are, to be sure,
a few relics- which by some are claimed to be genuine, which
transmit the symbol exactly as it is given in the scriptures. *Mr.
Ignatius Donnelly, in his volume called **Atlantis," has given a cut
which illustrates this, but the specimen can hardly be called a
genuine prehistoric relic. It is more likely to have been left by
by some Spanish explorer than by any native.
The tradition and the worship of the serpent in oriental coun-
tries might have come from, the scriptures, and in a degenerate
form may have been transmitted, carrying the symbols with them.
This country however is very remote and the tradition can hard-
ly be traced back to the sacred record. It would be easier to
explain the scripture account of the serpent as the result of a
primitive system such as we find here, than it would to trace the
symbol in America to scripture lands and say that it was the de-
generate form of this sacred story, symbolized by the natives in
their relics. Still the prevalence of the tradition and the symbol
may possibly be owing to the vague and shadowy myth which may
have been transmitted from the earliest time. The myth would
naturally become conformed to the superstitious notions and
customs of the natives. The imagery would become American,
the very conception would be savage, and the original stor^"
^vould be lost. The contrast between the symbol in the East
and the West can at least be thus explained.
2. The correspondence between the traditions of this country
and those of Europe and the lands of the East will perhaps be a
better point. This correspondence has been explained. Dr. D. G.
Brinton thinks that all the stories about the creation, the deluge,
the first ancestor, the Culture-Heroes, and even some of the
migration legends, can be traced to nature worship. He makes
them all to be mere variations of a primitive mythology. Even
the heroes which are so well known to history and which have
*Sce Atlantis, page 445.
2C0 THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN.
appeared conspicuously in literature and poetr>^, Hiawatha, Men —
tczuma, the ** Fair God" of the Toltecs, Quetzacoatl and the<
Peruvian Viracocha, are but personifications of the powers of na-
ture, with a small amount of actual history as a basis for their
celebrity.* On the other hand, Charles Leland maintains that
there was a close connection between these traditions and those
which have been preserved in the Younger Edda.
Mr. Leland quotes Henry Schoolcraft as holding a contrary
opinion, but thinks the traditions of the Wabanaki are excep-
tional. Mr. Schoolcraft's language is as followsif
"Where analogies are so general there is a constant liability to
mistakes. Of these foreign analogies of myth-lore, the least
tangible, it is believed, is that which has been suggested with the
Scandinavian mythology. That mythology is of so marked and
peculiar a character that it has not been distinctly traced out of
the great circle of tribes of the Indo-Germanic family. Odin and
his terrific pantheon of war gods and social deities could only
exist in the dreary latitudes of storms and fire which produce a
Hecla and a Maelstrom. These latitudes have invariably pro-
duced nations whose influence has been felt in an elevating pow-
er over the world. From such a source the Indian could have de-
rived none of his vague symbolisms and mental idiosyncrasies
which have left him as he is found to-day, without a government
and without a god." Mr. Leland says:^
"This is all perfectly true of the myths of Hiawatha- Manobozho.
Nothing on earth could be more unlike the Norse legends than
the Indian Kddas of the Chippewas and Ottawas. Rut it was not
known to this writer that there already existed in Northeastern
America a stupendous mythology, derived from a land of storms
and fire, more terrible and wonderful than Iceland; nay, so terri-
ble that Icelanders themselves were appalled by it. Here in Jeed
there existed all the time, a code of mythological legends such as
he declared Indians incapable of producing; but strangest of all,
this American mythology of the north, which has been the very
last to become known to Ameiican readers, is literally so like the
Edda itself that, as this work fully proves, there is hardly a song
in the Norse collection which does not contain an incident found
in the Indian poem legends, while in several there are many such
coincidences." * *
"It made, in short, a mythology such as would be perfectly
congenial to any one who had read and understood the Edda,
Beowulf, and the Kalavala, with the wildest and oldest Norse
Sagas. The Wabanaki mythology, which was that which gave
a fairy, an elf, a naiad, or a hero to every rock and river and
ancient hill in New England, is just the one of all others which
is least known to the New Englanders."
"^ Sec Myths of the New World. pp» 34. 49, j8. 81, in, 117. 133. 177, 183. 193, 195, 209^1x1235.
tSc* "Algonquin Legends of New Kngland.' — Introdii.lion, pp 1-3.
^Algonquin Legends Introduction, |>p. 4 and 5.
202 THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN.
*'It may very naturally be asked by many, how it came to pass
that the Indians of Maine and of the farther north have so much
of the Edda in theit sagas; or, if it was derived through the Es-
kimo tribes, how these got it from the Norsemen who were pro-
fessedly Christians. I do not think the time has come for fully
answering the first question. There is some great mystery of
mythology, as yet unsolved, regarding the origin of the Edda
and its relations with the faiths and folk-lore oT the older Sham-
anic beliefs, such as Lapp, Finn, Samoyed, Eskimo, and Tartar.
This was the world's first religion; it is found in the so called
Accadian-Turanian beginning of Babylon, whence it possibly
came from the West. But what we have here to consider is
whether the Norsemen did directly influence the Eskimo and
Indians."
3. The appearance of the serpent in American tradition is not
confined to the northeast coast or to the Algonquin race, but is,
in fact, found among all the different tribes. Mr. Schoolcraft
has referred to it in his interesting volume called "Algic Re-
searches." Dr. Brinton has also spoken of it in his volume,
** Myths of the New World." Mr. R. M. Dorman in his "Origin
of Primitive Superstitions," Mr. E. G. Squicr in his volume called
"Serpent worship," Mr. H. H. Bancrofc in his "Native Races,"
and many other writers.
Mr. Dorman says: *"Thc worship paid to the rattle-snake was
universal among all the tribes, but not conferred exclusively
upon this serpent. All the snakcj enjoyed a share of it though
in a less degree. The Winneba^oes reverenced and never killed
the rattle-snake. The Indians of F'lorida venerated the rattle-
snake and would not kill one for fear its spirit would incite its
kindred to revenge its death. The Cherokees worshipped the
rattle-snake. In Brazil, in a large town of 8,ooD cabins, Don
Alvarez found a tower which contained a serpent 27 feet long,
with a very large head. The Indians worshipped this as a divin-
ity and fed it with human flesh. The Peruvians worshipped
adders. Many images of serpents were found in South America
before which the inhabitants knelt in adoration."
The Iroquois have a tradition about Niagara F'alls, that a ser-
pent poisoned the waters, but Heno, the thunderer, who dwelt
under the sheet of water, discharged upon him a mighty thunder-
bolt which slew him. The Senecas still point to a place in the
creek where the banks were shelved out in a semi-circular form
which was done by the serpent when he turned to escape. His
body floated down the stream and lodged upon the verge of the
Cataract, stretching nearly across the river. The raging waters,
thus dammed up, broke through the rocks behind, and thus the
whole verge of the fall upon which the body rested, was precipi-
*r)orman's Ori£i;i cf Ptiniitive Superstitions pp 2^5.
THE SERPENT SYMBOL IN AMERICA. 208
tated into the abyss beneath. In this manner was formed the
Horseshoe Falls."*
Dr. Brinton says that the serpent seems to be associated in its
* winding course to rivers. The Kennebec, a stream in Maine,
in the Algonquin means "snake," and the Antietam, in Iroquois,
has the same signification. There is a tradition that a vast ser-
pent lived in the Mississippi near Fox (Illinois) River, but he
finally took a notion to visit the Great Lakes, and the trail he
made passing thither, is the basin of that stream.f
It has, by an association of ideas, become connected with the
lightning. The Algonquins thought that the lightning was an
immense serpent. The Shawnees called thunder, the hissing of
the Great Snake, and Tlaloc, the Toltec Thunder god. is always
represented with the snake twisted about his body. In the Ojib-
way mythology the serpent robs the Thunder-bird's nest.
It has also a strange mysterious relation to the spirit land. In
one tradition the serpent forms a bridge on which the soul must
cross the great stream which separates this world from the spirit
world.
"Who is a Manito?" asked the mvstic media chant of the Al-
gonquins. "He, who walketh with a serpent, walking on the
ground." is the reply, "He is a Manito."J
The cloud serpent, Mixcoatl, the white or gleaming cloud ser-
pent, is said to have been the only divinity of the ancient Chi-
cimeces.§
It is said of Quetzacoatl, the great Mexican divinity, when he
departed from the land, that he entered his wizard skiff made o
serpent skins and embarked upon the sea, after bestowing his
blessing upon the young men who accompanied him.||
In some localities the serpent seemed to be considered as
the embodiment of evil. The Apaches hold that every serpent
contains the soul of a bad man.^
The Piutes of Nevada have a demon deity in the form of a
serpent, still supposed to exist in the waters of Pyramid Lake
and this Devil Snake causes the water to boil like a pot, in time
of a storm.'
It was described to Whipple and to Mollhausen as possessing
power over the sea, lakes, rivers and rain. It was, among the
Pueblo cities of the Pecos, supposed to be sacred and accord-
^JJg Jo som e accounts was fed with the flesh of his devotees.^
"n»e Inxjuois, or the Bright Side of Indian Character," by Minnie Myrtle, p. T33.
^Donjun's Primitive Superstitions, p. 315. quoted from Schoolcraft, p. 682.
♦Tanner's Narrative, p. 356. Brinton's Myths, p. 114.
IBrinton'j Myths, p. 171.
'Donnan's Prim, Sup.-p. 94. — Short.-a^g.-Prrscoit-Vol. I-5S.
^Bancroft's Native Races, Vol. III. p. 135.— Schoolcraft's Archives, Vol. V. p. 20^.
»B»ncioft*s.-Vol. III-p. 135,— Sm. Rep.
'^^'*tt;'« Commerce with the Prairie, Vol.I-p. 271.
aWliippi^^ Ewbank and Turner's Report, p. 38.
'J'^cik R. R. Report. Vol. III.
204 THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN.
These traditions prove nothing as to the origin of the symbol
and yet they show how prominent the serpent was in native
American mythology. Perhaps the most interesting tradition^
of the serpent is one which has been preserved in the celebrated
Red Score Record of the Delawares or Lenni Lenapes, called the
Walum Olun). Of this, a new translation has been made by Dr.
D. G. Brinton and we take pleasure in quoting from his book.
The reader will notice the correspondence between this tradition
and the scripture record, but will see that it has been adapted to
the new circumstances, the memoiy of the people not going
back further than the migration. The following is the general
synopsis:
I. The formation of the univ^erse by the Great Manito, is de-
scribed. In the primal fog and watery waste, he formed land and
sky and the heavens cleared. He then created men and animals.
These lived in peace and joy until a certain evil manito came and
sowed discord and misery."
II. ''The Evil Manito, who now appears under the guise of a
gigantic serpent.determines to destroy the the human race, and
for that purpose brings upon them a flood of water. Many per-
ish, but a certain number escape to the turtle, that is, solid land,
and are there protected by Nanabush (Manibozho or Michabo.)
They pray to him for assistance, and he caused the water to dis-
appear, and the serpent to depart."
III. "The waters having disappeared, the home of the trib:^ is
described as in a cold and northern clime. This they
concluded to leave in search of warmer lands. Having divided
their people into a warrior and a peaceful class, they journeyed
southward, toward what is called the * Snake land.* "
IV. "The first sixteen verses record the gradual conquest of
most of the snake land. It seems to have required the succes-
sive efforts of six or seven head chiefs, one after another, to bring
this about, probably but a small portion at a time yielding to the
attacks of these enemies. Its position is described as being to the
southwest, and in the interior of the country. Here they first
learned to cultivate maize.
V. " Having conquered the Talegas, the Lenape possessed
their land and that of the Snake people and for a certain time
enjoyed peace and abundance. Then occurred a division of their
people, some as Nanticokes and Shawnees, going to the south,
others to the west, and later, the majority toward the east,
arriving finally at the Salt sea, the Atlantic ocean."*
We call attention to this record of the Delawares, for it con-
nects the archaeology of this country with the traditionary lore
of Europe and Central Asia. The record is evidently genuine
and has no more signs of being modified to suit missionary influ-
ence than all the traditions. There is a very remarkable cor-
*llic Lenape and their Legends, by Dr. D. G. Brinton, pp. 167-68.
THE SERPENT SYMBOL IN AMERICA. WS
resjiondenco between the tradition as thus recorded and some of
l]ie sj'mbolic structures which have been found in the eastern por-
tion of the Ohio Valley, The Red Score shows that is possible
to convey Ihought by symbols, and we are not sure but that this
was the object with some of the symbolic earth-worl;s.
4. We have maintained that the serpent symbol was very preva-
lent among tlie mounds of Ohio ; so prevalent as to give rise to
tile idea that the totem or ruling divinity of the people was the
I serpent. We do not say that the whole region was occupied by
1 this people, for there are other districts where the alligator or
I lizard seems to be the totem ; but the place where the great ser-
I pent may be seen and where the seqjent symbol prevails ; is a dis-
|-trict which is situated south of that in which the alligator appears
■ and which extends along the Ohio River on both sides from Ad-
[ams to Scioto county, or from the mouth of the Little Miami to
I that of the Scioto River. Corresponding to this district isanoth-
' «r where the Mound Builders erected their most notable works.
This is situated a little farther to the east in the vicinity of
Marietta. We ask the question whether this was not the habitat
-of the two races spoken of in the Walum Glum, the "Snake" race
and the Telegewhi.
We take it as very suggestive that the tradition of the Lsnni
Lenapes so correspond with the archeology and especially that
■of the eastern portion of the Ohio Valley. Here were situated,
according to ail accounts, the far famed race called thcTelleghe-
wi or Alleghewi. The Mound Builders of Ohio have been
I identified with this traditionary people; identified not only by the
. missionaries such as Heckwelder, Zeisberger, and others, but by
I ^rchfeologists, Here were situated, according to the interpretation
206 THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN.
which we ourselves have given to the earth works of Ohio, the
celebrated "Snake tribe or nation" which is spoken of in this tra-
dition.
On this point we quote Mr. Horatio Hale, who says: * "Every
known fact favors the view that during a period which may be
roughly estimated between i,ooo and 2,000 years ago, the Ohio
valley was occupied by an industrious population of some Indi-
an stock which had attained a grade of civilization similar to
that now held by the Village Indians of New Mexico and Arizo-
na; that their population was assailed from the North by less
civilized and more warlike tribes of Algonkins and Hurons act-
ing in a temporary league similar to those alliances which Pon-
tiac and Tecumseh aftenvards rallied against the white colonist;
that after a long and wasting war the assailants were victorious;
the conquered people were in great part exterminated ; the sur-
vivors were either incorporated with the conquering tribes or fled
southward and found a refuge among the nations which possess-
ed the region lying between the Ohio Valley and the Gulf of
Mexico; and that this mixture of races has largely modified the
language, character and usages of the Cherokee and Choctaw
nations.'**
Dr. Brinton also has pointed out the fact that the tribes of the
Chahta, Muskoki, comprising the Creeks, Chickasaws and Choc-
taws were mound builders in recent times, but he thinks that the
Mound Builders of the Ohio were in part their progenitors. The
remarkable work of the Tuscarora chief Cusick is evidence also. lie
describes the conflicts which were carried on between the northern
confederacy and the southern emperor who dwelt at the "Golden
City," but who also built forts throughout his dominions and al-
most penetrated to lake Eric. " Long bloody wars ensued,
which probably lasted about 100 years. The people of the north
were too skillful in the use of bows and arrows, and could endure
hardships which proved fatal to a foreign people. At last the
northern people gained the conquest and all the towns and forts
were totally destroyed and left a heap of ruins ;"t According
to I leckewelder, "hundreds of the slain Tallegewi were buried
under mounds near the Great River." Mr. Hale says " there
could be no reasonable doubt that the AUighewi, or Tellcgewi
who have given their name to the Alleghany river and moun-
tains, were the Mound Builders." He says " the Dakota stock
had its oldest branch east of the Alleghanies;" he thinks that the
migration of the tribe was from the Northeast. Prof \V. A. Wil-
iamson, the son of the missionary' among the Dakotas, says
that they have a tradition that their ancestors came from the
Northeast, and that they formerly dwelt on the Ohio River, and
built the mounds in that vicinity. It is supposed by some that
*Sce Anier. Antq. Vol. V. Xo 2, p. 120.
tAmcr. Antiq., Vol. I, No. 2. p. m6.1
THE SERPENT SYMBOL IN AMERICA.
SOX
the Dakotas and the Cherokees were different branches of the
same race. We speak of these traditions for they seem to con-
^rm the point which we have made, that the mounds on the
Ohio River were built by this people, which were called the
"Snakes."
5- Wc now turn to the archaeological evidence. There are
mounds on the Ohio River which arc in the shape of serpents.
The great Serpent Mound in Adams Co. is well known. It
needs no description. The discussion has, to be sure, been going,
on lately, whether this mound is really a serpent ornot. Accord-
ing to the survey of Squier & Davis, there is no doubt as to the
serpent effigy. Fig. i. Those authors also thought they recog-
nized in the effigy, the ancient tradition of the serpent and the
^g which is so prominent in the cosmogony of the *Hindoos..
*^^v, J. p. McLean, however, has explored the region and makes
*^^t a different figure, the figure of a serpent and a frog; and
*hinks that the old interpretation cannot be maintained. Fig. 2.
■^here is this to be snid however, about the effigy, that its very
size and prominence on the summit oi the hill, convey the idea
*nat it was a very important symbol, and quite likely to have
""^presented the chief totem or divinity of the tribe dwelling in
*he region. From it we judge that the name of the tribe would
*>e the "Snake Indians."
^r. W. H. Holmes thinks that it was a serpent symbol, but
?'-*Kgests that the circle with the altar in the center of it synibol-
'=ecl the heart of the .serpent.
. _ There is a circle or earth work near Chitlicothc which is in
ill' the shape of a .serpent. In this
^ case the serpent is not a mere
r effigy resting upon the summit
"ofahill, (Fig. 3.) as in Adams
county, but the wall to the en-
closure, or rather two serpents,
^ heads forming the gateway.
I This is a very remarkable work.
!| The situation is in the midst ofan
Jf extensive series of earth works.
; V on Paint Creek, where were many
/village enclosures and other
-'.''■ signs of habitation. This work is
ny.. described by Squier & Davis
work is elliptical in shape, the
^^'^tncter being 170 ft., transverse 350 feet. There is a single
^i^^ning or gateway 50 feet wide on the south, where the
-^Ils curve outwards and lap back upon themselves for the
r*s»,cc of do ft. The most remarkable feature of this singular
S^5 ^l^ consists of the five walls starting withi n 10 ft. of the enclos-
208 THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN.
urc and extending northward slightly converging, for the dis-
tance of lOO ft See Fig. 3. These walls are 30 ft. broad at
the ends nearest the enclosure and 10 Tt, apart. They diminish
gradually as they recede to 10 feet at their outer extremities.
The purposes of this strange work are entirely inexplicable.
The small size precludes the idea of a defensive origin. It
is the only structure of the kind which has been found in the
valleys and is totally unlike those found on the hills. The Great
Stone Fort on. Paint Creek is but two miles distant and over-
looks this work.*
Our explanation of this structure is that it represents two ser-
pents with the bodiw joined, but with the heads turned back in
such a way as to make the opening or gateway to the enclosure
between them. The long stone walls which seem to Squier & Da-
(Jilewiy Enlaced. Gate. Wall. Bluff.
Fig, <.-W0KK1i ON THE MfAMI RIVER. OHIO.
vi sso remarkable, represent the tails of these serpents very much
as the idols of Mexico contain the tails of serpents below the fig-
ures. The protection given to this enclosure would be partly
owing to the serpent effigy and the sacred character of the place
■would also be exhibited by it. An enclosure similar to this but
on a larger scale may be found on the banks of the Great Miami
river, four miles above the town of Hamilton. Here the serpent
symbol is contained in the entrance to the enclosure but there
THE SERPENT SYMBOL IN AMERICA.
209
is no such completed line of earth works and no structures that
correspond to the rattles. Squier & Davis' description of this
is as follows : " The ends of the wall curve inwardly as they ap-
proach each other upon a radius of 75 ft., forming a true circle.
'Within the space thus formed is another circle ico ft. in diameter
which seems to protect the gateway. Outside of this circle and
overlooking the bluff is a mound 40 ft. in diameter and 5 ft. high.
The passage between the circle and the embankment is only
about 6 ft." Fig. 4.
Another enclosure resembling this has been described by
Squier & Davis. It is in Butler County. The peculiarity of the
rig. c.—WORK IN COLERAIN, OHIO.
M^ork is that every avenue is strongly guarded and the entrances
resemble the gateway just described. The ends of the walls
overlap each other in the form of semi-circles having a common
centre. The coincidence between the guarded entrances of this
and similar works throughout the west, and those of the Mexi-
can entrances, is singularly striking.*
Still another work which has the symbol of the serpent as a
guard to the entrance way is found near Colerain, Hamilton Co.,
Ohio, on the bank of the great Miami.f Fig. 5.
In this case the tails of the serpent guard the entrance way rather
than the heads ; although there is another gateway where the
peculiar circular entrance is seen, but it is closed up and the gate
-way where the tails are seen is the principal entrance.
Fort Ancient is another work where the serpent symbol may
*Ac. Mon., Squier & Davis p. ax, pi. VIII, No. i.
t.\nc. Mon., p. 35, pi. XIII. No. 2. Anc. Mon. p. 18.
-XtO THE AHBniCAK ANTIQUAIUAN.
be seen. (Fig. 6.) The walls of this enclosure arc singularly tor-
tuous and resemble massive seq>ent's winding along the edge of
the blufTs. The place where the serpent sjTiibol is most manifest
is where the large mounds guard the entrance to the lower en-
closure at the neck of land which joins the two enclosures. Here
the wall is not only tortuous but rises and falls very much as if
two massive serpents were rolling their bodies along. There is also
in the larger enclosure a singular earth work which has the form
of a crescent. From its position inside of the enclosure we
should say that it was designed asa moon symbol, yel it may have
been built in that form merely as a matter of defense. We do
not stale positively that the serpent symbol is contained in the
Ft. Ancient, for it may be that the tortuous shape of the walls was
owing merely to the nature of the ground, as the bluff is exceed-
' ingly broken. The walls, in following the summit of the bluffs
would naturally be serpentine. And yet if the serpent symbol
is found in other earth works we should conclude that it was
contained in this, for the resemblance is very striking, when one
conceives the idea, and looks at the wall with this point in mind.
Another place where the serpent symbol is supposed to be con-
tained in an earth work, is at Portsmouth. Here we have
an extensive series of works consisting of walled enclosures,
parallel or covered ways, curved lines, horseshoe symbols, mounds
enclosed in circles, and a remarkable symbolic structure which
might be considered as representing the symbol of the sun and
the four quarters of the sky. or the four winds, and along with
the other structures, the serpent symbol. This is one of the most
remarkable series of works found in the world. It is composed
of three groups ; one on the Kentucky side of the Ohio River,
opposite the mouth of the Scioto, about two miles below the
city of Portsmouth; another which occupies the ground on the
north side of the Ohio to the east of the Scioto; it runs up and
across the two terraces and has its main works on the third terrace
overlooking the city below. The third group is on the
Kentucky shore but several miles further up the river than the
first group. The total length of the parallels now traceable may
be estimated at 8 miles, giving i6 miles of embankment to the
parallels alone, and computing the walls around the enclosures
and the circles which surround the horseshoe symbols with the
circles which surround the sun symbol, we have a grand total of
upwards of 20 miles of earth walls. The city of Portsmouth is
now built upon tlie ground where the largest group formerly ex-
isted. But the walls were fortunately visited and described be-
fore they were destroyed. Squier & Davis say, " the avenues, or
covered ways extending from one group to the other, have in-
duced many to assign them a military- origin, built with a design
to protect communication between the different works or enclo-
sures; but it is very certain that we must seek for some other ex-
)
THJi SERPENT SYMBOL IN AMERICA
f^l^wation of their purposes. There is no doubt in our mind
«:J-»i».t the covered ways were designed to protect communication
t'ween the different groups, but we agree with the authors of
t4 i» Fig, 6,— ■• yvKT ANXIENT."
j^^Jlcieot Monuments," in the opinion that the inclosures were
^^5^gned for a religious and not a military purpose,
^.^'lesymbonsmcontained in them would prove this if nothing else,
. 1 ** a singular fact that this entire series of works has a resera-
^^^ceto the great circle at Avebufy, England, There is the same
*^*-*rteooe rf the horseshoe symbol, and of circular enclosures.
212 THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN.
the dift'erent works being connected here by earth walls as there
by standing stones. Dr. Stukeley considered the works at Ave-
bur\' to be Diuidical and supposed that they altogether, when
entire, represented the Deity by a serpent and circle. The former
s\mboli7X'd bv the two avenues which led to Kennet on the one
hand and to Beckhampton on the other, Overton Temple being
the head of the serpent; the sanctuar\- or circle with its attendant
symbols being found in the vallum and standing stones or double
circle of stones upon Silbur\- Hill. The two wings of Avebun*
are formed of two temples enclosed within the great circular tem-
ples. Dr. Stukeley thinks also that Stonc-Henge in England
was a symbolic structure. The avenues to Stone-Henge were
first observed bv Mr. Auber\-. Dr. Stukelev found that one
branch had extended more than 1700 ft. down to the bottom of
the valley ; the other branch points to the northwest and extends
10,000 feet or two miles.
Mr. Maurice mentions two temples on the island of the Ork-
neys which by ancient tradition were dedicated to the sun; and
another at Riscaw-woon in Cornwall which represents a circle
with wings. These may be imaginary interpretations of the
works at Stone-Henge and at Avebur)-, but if the globe, wing^
and serpent have been recognized there we should say that they
could be with much more reason identified in the works at Prots-
mouth. We do not say that these works were Druidical, or tb^^
the Druidical .symbols were found there, and yet the fact is th*-*^^
the horseshoe symbol has been recognized here, and we sec ^.^
reason why the sun symbol may not have been symbolized
the circle on the Kentucky side. In reference to the works
Portsmouth, Squier & Davis say: *' The two crescent or hor
shoe shaped walls constitute the first striking feature which p
sents itself in the works at Portsmouth. They are both ab
the same size and shape, measuring 80 ft. in length by
in breadth. Inclosing these in part is a circular wall. There
.several small circles connected. No one after examining its
tails would ascribe a military origin to the group. The most r
sonable conjecture respecting it is that it was in some way c
nected with the superstitions of the builders. In what mann
of course, is impossible to determine. The group on the Yj^^^
tucky side is in many respects novel. It consists of four c
centric circles placed at irregular intervals in respect to ea
other, and cut at right angles by four broad avenues, which co^
form in bearing to the the cardinal points. A large mound
placed in the center ; it is truncated and terraced, and ha
graded way leading to its summit. On the supposition t
this work was in some way connected with the religic^-
rites and ceremonies of the builders, this mound must ha.
afforded a most conspicious place for their observance and ce
bration. And it is easy while standing on its summit, to
TIU: SEUPKXT SYMBOL IN AMERICA '2\?>
•
pic it with the strange priesthood of ancient supLTstitiun, and
fill its avenues and line its walls witii the thron^ini^ devotees
of a mysterious worshij). Whatever may have been the divinity
of their worship, order s\'mmetr\' and desij^ni were amoni; his
attributes; if, as appjars most likely, the works that most strong-
ly exhibit these features were dedicated to religi(uis puri)0ses,
and were s\'mbolical in their desiijn."'''
III. We turn now to the relics, as exidence that the serpent
symbol j)rc\ailed in America and there was a correspondence
between it and tradition. One tradition to which we would refer
is found in Schoolcraft's Algic Researches" and repeated in the
** Hiawatha 1 .e* rends."
**Manabozho's grandson had, contrary toachice . ventured v.yA.n
tile* ice (»f a lake in the spring time, lie had not got h.alf way
across when the ice ^'•ave wa\' and he fell in and was imnied'r.te-
\\' seized by the serpents who knew it was !\Ianabozho's ;;rand-
sc»n and were thirsting for revenge upon him. Manahozho .sets
C)i:* in search of his grandson. He finds the king-fisher bird
»ind inquires of him about the serpents and their habits. **D(»
vou see that beautiful white sandv beach"? said the bird, "Yes",
he answered. ''It is there, continued the king-fisher, that they
bask in the sun. Before they come out the lake will appear
perfectly calm; not a ripple will appear. After mid-day (na-wi-
qua) you will see them." I"
**He went to the sandy beach indicated and transformed him-
self into an oak stumj). lie had not been there long before he
saw the lake perfectly calm. Soon hundreds of monstrous ser-
pents came crawling on the beach. One of the number was
beautifully white, lie was the prince. The others were red
and yellow. The prince spoke to those about him as follows:
''I never saw that black stump standing there before. It may be
Manabozho. There is no knowing but he may be somewhere
^bout here. He has the power of an evil genius and we should
t>c on our guard against his wiles." One of the large serpents
immediately went and twisted himself around it to the top and
X tressed it very hard. The greatest pressure happened to be
^.round his throat; he was just ready to zxy out when the ser-
vient let go. Eight of them went in succession and did the like,
always let go at the moment he was ready to cry out. *Tt
annot be him," they said. **He is too great a weak heart for
liat." They then coiled themselves in a circle around their
rince. It was a long time before they all fell asleep. When
liey did so Manabozho took his bow and arrows, and cautiously
"Pepping over the serpents until he came to the prince, drew up
is arrow and shot him in the left side. He then gave a saw-
siw-quan, (the war-cr>'j and ran off at full speed. The sound
^Anc. Mon. Squier and Davis, pp. 81-82.
'tHiawatha Legends p. 37.
214 THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN.
uttered by the snakes on seeing their prince mortally wounded,
was horrible. They cried, "Manabozho has killed our prince;
go in chase of him."
It is very remarkable that this Algonquin story about Mana-
bozho and his adventure with the serpent tribe should be found
perpetuated in the relics, but there are Mound Builders' pipes
which seem to embody it.
It is noticaable, that a pipe has been found which has the fig-
ure of a serpent carved around the bowl. ex?.ctly as the serpent
in the tradition was coiled around the stump. Fig. 7. What is
Kig. ;,— SERl'ENT riPE FROM OHIO,
more, this pipe strangely resembles very strongly the Phtenician
symbol which perpetuates the tradition of the serpent and the
tree. It may be a mere coincidence, and yet it is worthy of
thought, because there are so many symbols among the mounds
which seem to have been founded on tradition exactly as the
serpent symbol in the east is based upon the tradition of the ser-
pent and the tree. We do not connect the two nor claim that
this serpent symbol in America is to be traced to the eastern tra-
dition about the serpent and yet the resemblances are quite
marked. We do not say that this pipe is an actual embodiment
of the tradition but it is at least suggestive of it. There are many
relics which represent the serpent in some form, either as orna-
ments inscribed upon the surface or as carved into the relic itself.
It is a singular circumstance that the earth works in Ohio
frequently represent the serpent in their shapes and at the
same time contain relics on which are carved figures of the
same reptile. The rattlesnake seems to be the symbol which
is the mcst common. The pipe which we have just described
was taken from a mound in southern Ohio. There are also other
specimens which contain the serpent symbol. Squier& Davis have
described a tablet on which a snake is carved very delicately
Fig. 8. They .state that several tablets were taken from a mound
in an enclosure called Clark's Work on Paint Creek. They
speak of the find as an important one. One of the tablets
was enveloped in sheets of copper but others were painted wUh
different colors. This one represents the snake as coiled i^ so
THE SERPENT SYMBOL IN AMERICA. 215
as to make three folds the rattles turning up at one end and
the head at the other, the whole specimen being about 6}^
inches long and i }i inches broad. They say "it does not ap-
pear probable that these relics were designed for ornaments ; on
the contrary, the circumstances under which they were discov-
ered render it likely that they had a superstitious origin and
Fig. 8— TABLET FROM PAINT CREEK.
-were objects of high regard and perhaps of worship. The ser-
pent cnter'^d widely into the superstitions of the American na-
tions and was conspicuous among their symbols. Wherever it
appears, whether among the carvings of the Natchez, who ac-
cording to Charlevoix, placed it upon their altars as an object
of worship, among the paintings of the Aztecs, or upon the tem-
ples of Central America, it is invariably the rattlesnake. The
featherheaded rattlesnake was in Mexico, the peculiar symbol
of Tezcatlipoca, otherwise symbolized as the sun. This also
goes to confirm the position previously taken, that the Mound
Builders of Ohio were serpent worshipers.
There is a relic which was found on the banks of Paint Creek,
on which the face of a Mound Builder is carved and around the
neck a large serpent is folded, the head and tail resting to-
gether upon the breast of the figure. The head is surmounted
by a knot resembling the scalp lock of the Indians but the face
has markings upon it as if to imitate the painting or tattoo conjj^
mon with the natives. This relic is a pipe and yet it has a close
relationship to certain stone idols which are common in this re-
gion. Thus we have the symbol of the race and possibly the
portrait of the same people combined in one carved figure or
idol.
IV. We call attention to the extent and variety of this symbol.
It is found not only among the mounds but in many other
localities. It is found in combination with other figures. Some
times the bird and serpent are combined in the same relic. An
excellent illustration of this is contained in the following figure.
See Fig. 9. The pipe has been described by Mr. E. A. Barber,
as follows : " It is a large trumpet-shaped stone pipe found in
the vicinity of Santa Fe, New Mexico, and is at present in the
collection of Mr. Wm. S. Beebe, of Brooklyn, N. Y. It is be-
lieved to be amongst the finest American pipes extant. The
bowl is carved to represent an eagle's head, on the back and
THE AMERICAS ANTIQl'ARIAN.
s of men app^r in relief, wbi
■.s nru stretched in lifelike a
sides of which, Lilliputian fi^i
along the stem, four rattlesii;
tudes."*
We here quote from ^h: W, H. Holmes, of tlie ]-"^nograt
ical Bureau who has made n spjcial study of the shell orname
1 ig. v— STOKK PIPE FkOM KE\\' MEXICO.
and has described those which have the serpent effigj' upontiie
He says:
"The serpent has had a fascination for primitive man hardly s
passed by its reputed power over the animals on which it pre
In the minds of nearly al! savages it has been associated with
deepest mysteries and the most potent powers of nature.
THE SEKPENT SYMBIIL IX AMERICA.
217
(itliLT creature has fig-
ured so prominently in
the rehffjous systems
of the world, few of
which are free from it;
and as art, in a great
measure, owes its exis-
tence to an attempt to
represent or embetlish
objects which are sup-
posed to be the incarna-
tions of spirits, the ser-
pent is an imporlaiit ele-
ment in all art. So welt
is the serpent known as a
religious symbol among
the American peoples
that It seems hardly nec-
Lssary to present exam-
pits of the curiously in-
terehtmg myths relating
to It We are not sur-
prised to find the bird,
the wolf, or the bear
placed among represent-
atives of the Great Spirit,
and hence to find them
embodied in art; but it
would be a matter of sur-
prise if the serpent were
ever absent. With the
Moiind Huilders it seems
have been of as mudi
importince as to othtr
divisions of the red race,
-incicnt or modern. It
s of very frequent oc-
currt-nce among the de-
signs engraved upon
t,or^ets of shell, a mul-
titude of vvhich have
been thus dedicated to
the serpent god. It is a
well known fact that the
the rattle snake is the
variety almo.st universal-
ly represented and we
find that these engrav-
THE AMERICAN ANTIQUABIAN.
SHELL GOKCEIS FROM TENNtSSEE,
ings on shell present no ]
exception to the rule.
From a verj' earl)' date
in mound explorations
these gorgets have been
brought to light, but the
coiled serpent engraved
upon their concave sur-
faces is so highly con-
ventionalized that it was
not at once recognized.
Prof. Wyman appears to
have been the first to
point out the fact that
the rattlesnake was rep-
resented ; others have
since made brief allusion
to this fact. Among the
30 or 40 .specimens that
I have examined, the en-
graving of the serpent is, I
with . one exception, r
placed upon the concave I
side of the disks, which f
is. as usual cut from the 1
most distended part of I
the Busyeon pert'ersum,
or some similar shell.
The great uniformity of 1
these designs is a matter r
of much surprise. At I
the same time, however,/
there is no exact dupH-f
cation. There are always I
differences in position, f
detail, ornumberof parts, j
The serpent is always
coiled, the head occu-
pying the center of the
disks. With a very few. ■
exceptions, the coil isa
sinistral. The head isl
so placed that when thel
gorget is suspended, it
has an erect position, the
mouth opening toward
the right hand. To oni
who examines this <'
THE BERPENT SYMBOL IK AMERICA.
919
sign for the first time it seems a most inexplicable puzzle ; a
meaningless grouping of curved and straight lines, dots, and
perforations. We notice, however, a remarkable similarity in the
designs, the idea being radically the same in all specimi;ns, and
the conclusion is soon reached that there is nothing haphazzard
in the arrangement of the parts and that every line must have its
place and purpose."
For convenience of comparison, we have arranged two series
of outlines. The specimens shown in Fig. lo, page 217, are almost
identical in size and shape.
One fine specimen shown in
Fig. 10, is from the Urakebill
mound near Kno-vville, Tenn..
and is now in the Peabody
Museum. It is five inches in
length and a little more than
"414 in width. The specimens
illustrated on page 3iS repre-
sent a somewhat different type
of design but are found asso-
ciated with the others. The
tliree shown in^Fig. 1 1 , belong
to the Peabody Museum and
are from mounds in I-^st Tenn-
essee. The others arc in the
National Collection and come
from the same region. Fig. 12
is an outline of a rattlesnake
gorget, probably from Georgia,
which is preserved in the Nat-
ural History Museum of New
York. It is 4 inches in length
by 3 J^ in width. Fig. I J rep-
resents a large specimen from
Tennessee which is now pre-
served in the National Collec-
tion. The design is placed
upon the gorget somewhat
difiTerently from the other spec-
imens, the mouth of the ser-
pent being near the top and
the neck below at the right.
Fi«fc .Band 13. -GORGETS FROM GEOR'jiA. There IS al SO a dotted belt at
the right of the head which is not found in any of the specimens
described. Figs. i43nd is.represent drawings of serpents' heads
found in the ancient cily of Chimu. Peru. Fig. 16, is copied
from one of the codices of Goldsborough and is a very .spirited
representation of a plumed and spotted rattlesnake. The tablet
330 THE AMEItlCAX AXTWUARIAX.
shown in Fig. 1 7 is the most remarkable as it resembles many
of tile symbols found in tlic codices of Mexico, though it was
found among the mounds. There is also a remarkable resem-
blance in the relic to some of the earthworks which we have al-
ready described. The remarkable plumed and feathered serpent
given in l-'\g. iS. is painted on the rocks at Lake Nijapa, Nica-
ragua."
In studying these de-
signs the attention is first
attracted by an eyelike
figure near the left border.
This is formed of a series
of concentric circles, the
number of which varies
from throe in the most
simple to twelve in the
more elaborate forms.
The diameter of the out-
er circle of the figure va-
ries from one-half tD one
inch. In the center there
is generally a small con-
ical depression or pit.
The series of circles is
partially inclosed by a
looped band !-s of an
inch in width which
opens downward to the
border line gradually
nearing each other and
forming a kind of neck
to the circular figure.
This band is in most
cases occupied by a se-
ries of dots or conical
depressions varj-ing in
number from one to
thirty. The neck is dec-
orati-'d in a variety of
way^; by dots, by
KiB*. ... 15. -i".! ,r,._si;Ri>vN IS [N I'F.ui- .straight lines, curved
lines, and by a crosshatching that gives a semblance of scales.
A curious group of lines occupying .1 cresent-shapcd space at
the right of the circular figure and inclosed by two border lines,
must receive particular attention. This is really the first part
of the head — tiie jaws and the muzzle of the creature represented.
The mouth is always clearly defined and is mostly in profile.
•Ann.i..lKi^.rl..f llur.-ji, ,.f Kihir.k'jy.— iS,<,.-ti ;.i.. ;tt,-«u.— I'l*. I.XIV, LXV, LXVI .
iKRPKN-r FROM THI-: >
THE SEUPKNT SYMBOL IN AMERICA. 221
the upper jaw being turned* abruptly upward, but in some
examples, an attempt has been made to represent a front
view, in which case it presents a wide V-shaped figure. It is,
in most cases, furnished with two rows of teeth, no attempt
being made to represent a
tongue. The spaces above and
below the jaws are filled with
lines and figures, whicli varj-
much in the different speci-
mens; a group of plume-like
figures, extends backwards
from the upper jaw to the
crown, or othenvise this space
is occupied by an elongated
perforation. Tlie body is rep-
resented encircling the head
in a simple coil, which appears
from beneath the neck on the
■ right, passes around the front
of the head, and terminates at
the back in a pointed tail with well defined rattles. It is en-
graved to represent the well known scales and spots of the rattle-
snake; the conventional figures being (]uite graphic. These fig-
wresare interrupted
>n the upper part of
*he coil by a num-
l>erof lines which
*^ross the body at
""•ght angles. The
"Ody is in many
*^ases nearly sev-
ered from the rim
of the disk by four
*^t»long perforations
^hich follow the
*^ord«r line of the
*^esign. In most
'^ases three other
P«;rforations occur
St»out the head, one
•■epresents the
*nouth, one defines
*He forehead and i,b, Ti-ib;AinKKLi> mkim m i rum \-i<.iK\.it-,\.
*he third is placed against the throat." It is probable that some
of these were intended to represent the common yellow rattle-
sn^e of the Atlantic slope, the characteristic markings of which
*'*e alternating light and dark chevrons, while the diamond rattle-
snake of the Southern States may have been a model for the others.
THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN.
./ B^f^rf
THE LODGE DWELLER.
UilhropelPs'cl Sodily. Wailiin~l.'ii. D. C. April i.
Early observers of Amei
vith the r
1 antiquities,
nituUf ot tUt ancient cartliworks of the Ohio and Mississippi val-
leys, and duly imbued with the proper Caucassian contempt for
the red man and his ways, in accounting for these great »vorks.
accepted for an established fact tlie existence of a relatively high
grade of pre-Indian civilization, and the mystic mound builder
was accordingly born. Subsequently it began to be suspected,
through the scattered bits of evidence taken up here and there,
that perhaps a mistake had been made; so that to-day it ts not
held heretical or impious for the student, who dwells among the
tombs, to give a gentle tug at the veil which has so long, ob-
scured the features of this canoni;<ed aboriginal architect.
In Bancroft's " Native Races," under the general head of " Sa-
cred Enclosures." mention is made of several groups of large
earthworks in Ohio, of various forms and dimensions thus class-
ified. In connection with these large enclosures the author re-
marks that small circles are sometimes found associated with tlie
larger works ; describing such citcles as having a diameter from
thirty to fifty feet, of low embankment, and with no entrance, and
expressing the opinion that "these may very likely be the re-
mains of lodges or camps."*
An ancient enclosure of considerable magnitude' at Aztalan.
Wis., is described in Foster's " Prehistoric Races." An irregular
parallelogram of .seventeen and two-thirds acres is enclosed by a.
ridge or wall about twenty-two feet wide, and from one to five
feet in height. The plan furnished of these works shows many
small rings or circles connected with the outlying ridges, which,
to use Col. Foster's language, "are supposed to be the remains
of mud houses, the materials of the walls having fallen in, left
only a circular mound of earth to mark the original site." With-
in the ancient fortifications at Meroni, Indiana, a large number
of circular depressions were noticed, varying in width from ten
to thirty feet, and Mr. Putnam, of the Peabody Museum, express-
es the opinion that these pits were the houses of the inhabitants
or defenders of the fort.f
Among all the remains that attest the degree and nature of ab-
original development, none have received greater attention or
evoked more admiration than the Newark works, in Licking
County. Ohio. Quoting from Squier & Davis: "A number of
small circles are found connected with the works, and chiefly
I
I
{
1-BB LODQE DWELLER. S3S--
tmfaraceci in the area between tlie two principal parallels. They
arc about eighty feet in diameter, without gateways opening into
ihcm.aniJit has been suggested that they probably mark the
sitci of ancient circular dwellings," The same gentlemen say,
in their account of the High Bank works, Ross Co., Ohio, which
are of the same genera! character as those of Newark : "A num-
ber of small circles occur about a hundred yards distant from the
"ctagon, in the forest land to the southeast. They measure
nearly fifty feet in diameter, and the walls are about two feet in
height. It has been suggested that they are the remains of
structures of .some kind, and also that they were the bases ofun-
finishcd mounds. There are no indications of entrances or pass-
Lagcways — a circumstance which favors the latter hypothesis.
KSimilar small circles occur within or in the immediate vicinity
lof severul other large works.f
At Madisonville, Ohio, Mr. Putnam found associated with
J«crtain curious "ash pits" what he denominated "earth circles,"*
(""oin fifly-threc to fifty-eight feet in diameter, the exploration
^f vhich yielded beds of ashes, potsherds, flint flakes, etc. In
*"«; ash pits were found, in much greater abundance, household
■■tensilsand refuse. Regarding the use of the pits as somewhat
ponjectural, he concluded that their origin was to be attributed
"^ the people whose occupation of tbe place w,ns indicated by the
-irdcs. Subsequently Miss Fletcher, suggesting a use for ash
C*ts, called attention to the fact that it was the custom of the
.■-***iahas,who were dwellers in mud lodges, to make caches outside
^" the lodge for the reception of food and valuables; and that
^Hcn the cache ceased to serve that purpose it was then used
a convenient receptacle for the ashes and refuse of the lodge.*
, During the years of 1879 and 1880 the writer gave considera-
t}^ attention to the earth works in Mills County, Iowa, some ac-
^*«-int of which was furnished the Amkkican Astiquaria-n.S From
"*<= known habits of many western Indians it will not be difficult
* account for the origin of the obviously residential earth works
'■^^ ich were then located and explored, and the similarity of these
^•^lains to others associated with some of the greatest works in the
*r»io valley and elsewhere has suggested the presentation of this
This county lies in the southwest corner of the State, and is
**Jided on the west by the Missouri river. The greater part
the county is made up of high rolling prairie, diversified with
^^\ bottom lands lying along the water courses. The Missouri
**»Jiriine rises in a fanciful pile along the floor-like valley of the
^*''<sani, to the average height of two hundred and fifty feet;
*I*^rsely wooded on its western face, but covered with a heavier
— ^ Wh as th e hi lls recede from the river.
2U THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN.
•
Among these bluffs along the divides, scattered over the hill
sides, nestling in the valleys, are many ancient foundations of the
aboriginal domicil. But two forms of earthworks are found
the mound and the circle. The former are comparatively
small, and have thus far yielded but little return to the explorer;
an occasional chip of flint or scrap of pottery furnishing about
the only substantial evidence of their artificial origin ; but the
frequent association of the mound with the circle, which will be
noticed further on, invites attention to the one as well as the
other.
The appellation "circle," while perhaps conveying a very defi-
nite notion of form, has not seemed suggestive enough of use to
merit adoption ; and while it may be objected that a foundation
is not a house, it has pleased my fancy to call these remains
** lodges."
The lodge, then, is a circular excavation, varying in width
from twenty to sixty feet, with a present depth of three or four
feet. The soil removed in the process of construction was partly,
if not wholly, piled up around the outer edge of the circle, so
that a considerable wall was thus raised. In many instances no
vestige of the outer wall remains, but 1 have found it often
enough to convince me that its absence in other cases should be
attributed to the effects of time.
As to evidence touching the age of these lodges, it should first
be remarked that in cutting across the outer circle of quite a
number, no remains of the posts or poles that once must have
stood there were discovered. Over the original floor of the lodge,
which will be found invariably on the clay, or rather, "bluff de-
posit," a black soil has accumulated to an average depth of tw-o
feet. And in making this statement it should be noted that, as in
some cases the superficial deposit is very much greater than the
average given, so it is in others as much less; so that the depth of the
black soil may furnish some evidence of the relative ages of the
various lodges when compared with each other, as w^ell as proof
of their general antiquity. The rapidity with which changes are,
or may be wrought in the surface of the soil shon.ld not be lost
sight of, if its depth over the old foundations is to be considered
as one of the means of estimating their age. During the spring
of i8So a heavy westerly wind prevailed throughout Nebraska
and southwestern Iowa. Hut little rain or snow had fallen in the
preceding fall and winter months, and while the wind lasted the
air was filled with a thick yellow cloud of dust. So persistent
and effectual was the work that when it ceased the dust lay along
the hedges and fences in drifts. The cultivation of the soil, of
course, made the effects of the wind more marked; but the re-
sult was none the less suggestive. With one or two exceptions,
the size trees growing within the lodge, have attained, does not
give much indication of an\' great lapse of time following aban-
THE LODGE DWELLER. 22r>
donmcnt. However, in one case an oak stump eighteen inches
in diameter was found standing in the center of a lodge. Fin-
ally, the traditions of the present occupants of this region take
no note of these lodges; their origin, use, and existence being
.qfcnerally accounted for in the terms "buffalo wallow" and "sink
hole."
During the period mentioned above, Mr. Seth Dean, the county
surveyor, and the writer undertook the task of locating and ex-
I>lc)ring such ancient earthworks as might be found in the county,
and mention will be made of three groups of lodges, then exam-
ined, as fairlv illustratincr choice oflocationand the extent of these
ancient villages.
^>n the farm of (). K. .Mlis, in Oak township, there is a group
of five lodijes located on a hillside owrlookincr the Missouri
bottom, and a short di.stance north of a small stream flowing
clown from the hills. This place has been under cultivation for
a number of )'ears, but the outlines of the lodges were yet well
defined, and the ground littered with fragments of pottery and
niusscl shells. The presence of the latter seems to account for
the location of the encampment so near the sloughs and bayous
<^^f the Missouri. A careful search for relics of the fireside, war-
P^th, and chase was only rewarded by one arrowhead, (which.
t>y the way, was well made and unique in form), a few quarts of
oroken pottery, a fair stock of paint stones, and two fragments
^^ an arrow polisher, made of coarse sandstone lined with a
-Straight central groove. Dean afterward found a pipe of catlin-
'^^\ similar in form to those now in use among the Indians of the
^^rthwcst, just south of the little stream mentioned above, where
<'^n other lodge stood. The abundance of pottery, shells, and
P*^int stones, constrasted with the small number of stone imple-
^^nts found here, is worthy of note for inquiry did not bear out
^ne presumption that the latter had been mostly picked up be-
»ore We visited the place. In the Smithsonian Report for 1881
^vill be found a short account of this village, together with a
sketch of location, furnished by Mr. Dean.
One mile west of Glenwood, the county seat, and partly on
^*^c farm of T. D. Tipton, there is a series of lodges, seven in
^J^'^^r, scattered along a crescent-shaped ridge for a distance
^^three-quarters of a mile. Near the southern end of the line is
^ targe mound, eight feet high, seventy feet in length, and forty
^^t across. Mr. Dean's account of the structure, taken from the
^^ort as above, is as follows :
**Opened mound with S. V. Proudfit, Nov. 25, 1879, and dug
^ hole six feet long and four feet wide. At seven feet from the
surface came to a layer of ashes about one-half an inch thick, and
oelow this a layer of stones. These stones were from two to
^»^ven inches thick, and wold probably weigh from twenty to
"^irty pounds. They were evidently placed upon what was the
226 THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN.
original surface of the ground, and the ashes and earth placed
above them. The stones were probably brought from the Ne-
braska side of the river, about four miles directly west. The
characteristic fossils in the stone indicate this.'*
I will add to this description the further fact that we found in
the sides of the pit, at corresponding heights, stones similar to
those found below, and that the mound had been disturbed before
we made our exploration. The position of this mound affords a
commanding outlook over the Missouri bottom to the west and
south, and suggests to the most casual observer that the iocatioil
was selected on that account. Several of the lodges were op)ened
at the side and center, with no result save in finding pieces of
charcoal and the usual quantit>' of broken potter\'. In all of these
diggings we never found a complete vessel but in one instance,
and in that case we did not see it except in fragments, for an
unlucky blow of the spade first called attention to the presence
of the vessel where it had been left sitting on the fire in the cen-
ter of the lodge. One of these lodges was three feet in depth
and forty-five feet across, and filled with a young growth of tim-
ber, but most of them lay in cultivated fields where sharpness
of outline had been destroyed. This group is perhaps a mile
from the river bottom, and has furnished still fewer stone imple-
ments than the Allis lodges. No paint stones nor mussel shells
are to be found ; nothing but potter)% and that not so abundantly
as at the former place.
, One-half mile south of Glenwood, in the very center of the
present fair ground, is another cluster of lodges. The location is
utterly unlike that of the two already described. A level plat of
several acres lies enclosed on three sides by hills, the fourth open-
ing to the south upon Keg Creek, which just below this point
finds its way through the bluff line. As in the arena of a great
amphitheater, the village lay under the kindly protection of the
surrounding hills that shutout the rough winds of the north and
west, but let in the warmth and light of the sun. On the eastern
side a small brook came down from the hills and emptied into
the larger stream which bounded the encampment on its south-
ern front. On the surrounding hills above the village must have
stood the sentry posts of this little community, for without such
precaution the insecurity ot the position would have more than
counterbalanced its other natural advantages. Being thoroughly
convinced of the necessity for something like a permanent occu-
pation of the commanding points above, by the people who dwelt
in the little plain below, I persistently tramped over these hills,
though they were covered in many places with heavy underbrush
and young timber, searching for evidence in verification of my theo-
ry, but no mounds or earth works were discovered. On the crest of
the southern end of the semicircle, however, where the bluflT
THE LODGE DWELLER. 227
overlooks both the village site and the Missouri bottom, I did
find abundant evidence of an ancient workshop. The hill was
strewed with flint chips and bits of pottery; while at the foot of
tlie hill, where the public road has cut into the blufifl picked up
a di illed tooth bead, an odd bone implement, mussell shells, bones,
and several worked flints, all of which evidently had been washed
down from the hill above. With this evidence in support of my
scheme for the safe occupation of the place I was compelled to
rest satisfied. The exact number of lodges within this village
could not be ascertained, as the grading done in the preparation
of the grounds for their present use must have destroyed several
of the old foundations. Four were quite distinct when I first vis-
ited the place. Though the field had been under cultivation
for many years, fragments of pottery were to be found in great
abundance; while stone implements, embracing the whole outfit
for the chase and fireside, arrowheads, drills, scrapers, the turtle-
back, and more highly finished celt, added their testimony as to
a long occupation. The arrowheads, though remarkably small,
exhibited a degree of excellence in workmanship noticeably su-
perior to any found elsewhere in the county.
While we found many lodges, both singly and in groups, be-
sides those mentioned herein, the choice of location is perhaps fully
illustrated without further specifications. The sunny southern
slope, the breezy crest of a divide, and the sheltered valley, had
each its own special advantage, which then as now* would appeal
to the sense of rest and security.
The mounds are but few when compared with the lodges, yet
invariably occur in company with the latter. About a half-mile
cast of the mound in the Tipton village, stands another of nearly
the same size, as yet unexplored. This has lying about it a
small group of lodges, not exceeding three or four. North and
west of Glenwood, about four miles on the old Pacific City road,
is another low mound of considerable dimensions, with its at-
tendant lodges. In fact, though^ locating a number of mounds
ye found none except in company with lodges. The deduction
is therefor: reasonable that these two forms of earthworks have
^common origin ; and there is nothing in the magnitude of
either that calls for any theory to account for their construction
^utside of the known habits of many Indians of the Siouan fam-
ily, when taken in connection with the enforced change of cus-
toms that followed the arrival of the white race.
Turning again to the consideration of those greater earth-
works that have been set down as the undoubted production
of the Mound Builder, who was not a red man, and noting the
presence of the humble lodge, the acceptance of a theory which
*tots that the lodge dweller could have reared those mighty
monuments certainly carries with it several pregnant suggestions.
Wiothcn was this lodge dweller? From the testimony of
THE AMERICAN ANTKiUARIAX.
Messrs. Squier & Davis, Bancroft, Putnam, Foster, and otl
he was the very Mound Builder himself. Granted : but
Iodide dweller of the west, thoui;h an unquestioned mound be-
er, has but lately forsaken the mud-built walls of his ance^
and accepted a home on the i^overnment reservation.
S. V. Proi'dfi
— I.
Correspondence.
FKArDi'LKNT sToxi-: or.jia'rs, and tiii-: <i
c()RRI::sp()N!)]:nci:.
JiJ, A}}!cr'ujt)i A}iti<]itaria)t :
in Science of May 14th, WA, \'II, No. 171, appears a c
niiin leal ion licatlcd ^^ 'J'hc Davenport Tablets,-' from Mr. Chi
n. Putnam, Pres't of the Davenport Academy of Science
wliicli i> added a letter from the Rev. J. Gass, containinj^ niisn
resentations, which in justice to!Mr. II. C. J^tevens and the wri"
should he corrected. Mr. Putnam writes that in CJ^rrcsponde-
\\ ith ine, he desired that Mr. (niss shonld have an opportunitv
ins])ect the relics in question, and requested that they be forwar
to the Davenport Academy for that i:)ur23ose.
In one of Mr. Putnam's letters dated at Davenport, Iowa,
29th, 1SS5, he writes the followinjj^: ^*You will, I am quite si
aji^ree with me that there should be no concealment in scicnt
research. I feel free, therefore, to request of you the name of y
"^visitin" to whom these letters w|?re addresscd,and that correct co
of the letters be sent me immediately. They are essential to
investij^ations I am now making." That I did as requested,
foUowino^, quoted from his next letter of Jaii'y 6, 18S6, will sh
"I am, however, greatly obliged for the unreserved frankness
your letters. They put me in possession of essential facts. \
find it necessary to ascertain the scribe who wrote the letters, a
whether the signature of Rev. ^Mr. Gass to them is genuine.
accomj^lish this we must have an opportunity to inspect the Ictt
themselves, or fac-si miles, or photographs of them. We,
course would prefer the former, and if you will send them to us,
will see that they are j^romptly returned to you. Otherwise
you will have the photographs taken I will remit to you the c
of same."
To this proposition I answered that, although the letters we
in my p(^ssession they did not belong to me, and I would not t
FRAUDULENT STONE OBJECTS. 229
them go out of my hands unless requested to by the owner Mr.
II. C Stevens. I would however write to him, and if he found
no objection I would gladly forward them. As to photographing
them, I at once acquiesced, and waited only to be told to proceed.
Immediately after writing to Mr. Stevens I was informed that
Mr. Putnam threatened libel suits ajjainst all who disbelieved the
authenticity of the Gass discoveries. This put me on my guard,
and I at once wrote to Mr. JStevens, telling of the threats
made by Mr. Putnam, and I have but to quote again from his
future letters. to show the true state of the case. "Should it how-
ever become necessary to investigate Mr. Stevens I shall take a
more effectual way to do it." This threat I took to mean a threat
suit for libel agrainst Mr. Stevens. In the meantime a letter
reached me from Mr. Stevens who said : "As to the the letters I
do not know what to say. I think they ought to be kept safe for
my protection in case a libel suit should be commenced." Under
the circumstances I felt myself justified in not forwarding the let-
ters to Davenport, and I also took occasion to chide Mr. Putnam
for his strong and intimidating language.
In Mr. Putnam's last letter to the writer is found the follow-
ing; "We certainly are entitled to inspect these relics, but unless
Mr. Gass will travel to Pennsylvania, it seems he will not be per-
mitted to do so. You are willing they should be used for assault
hut not for defense. So be it. We must do as wgW as we can
^vithout them. The matter of the "letters" may likewise stand as
it is for the present. Should the photographs be needed hereaf-
fcr I will let you know."
Now for the first time was I made aware that he wanted the so-
called relics, but knowing of the threats made, and becoming an-
noyed with what he charged me I wrote him declining to send the
relics or letters, intimating that there was no certainty that if he
could get the frauds and letters into his possession, that he would
return them in the same condition as sent. " They were not kept
for assault but for defense."
The " Gass letters" are now in the possession of Mr. Stevens to
-whom they were written. I own the stone objects, and I intend
to keep them. They were given me by Mr. Stevens, who said he
cared nothing for them. 1 will be pleased to show them to any
one who wishes to see them ; the Davenport people not excepted.
If they wish photographic copies of them I will be very glad in-
deed to grant their request.
Mr. Stevens in his letter to Mr. Gass, published in the March
number of the American Antiquarian, told the truth when he
said they (the objects) no longer belonged to him, but to Mr.
Berlin. Mr. Stevens never informed the writer " that many ob-
jects sent him were thrown out in the yard on a pile of other re-
jected relics. But he did write the following which I quoted in
one of my letters to Mr. Putnam, who sees fit to interpret errone-
ously :
*' I have a rock pile in my back yard composed of the heavier,
280 THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN.
coarser and not much prized relics. The two perfect pipes ivere
put out with this pile^ and remained there perhaps a year ^
Mr. Gass professes ignorance of the fraudulent objects. All of
them were fully described by the writer in the March number of
the "American Antiquarian." When Mr. Gass was told that the
stone objects were in my possession, he should at once have writ-
ten me. I expected to hear from him, but not a word until his
letter, prefaced by one from Mr. Putnam, published in Science^ in
which he reflects on me and on Mr. Stevens, as if we were setting
up relies to make out a case against him.
If Mr. Putnam's articles have been denied admission into the
columns of the Antiquarian, except under restrictions, he has
himself and those that side with him to blame. This action of
Mr. Pcet causes no surprise when threats are made, and when one
reads the sarcastic article by Mr. W. H. Pratt, curator of the Dav-
enport Academy, in the March number of that journal.
It is plain from Mr. Gass' own admission, that a fraud has been
committed, and that he has offered to trade fraudulent relics for
genuine relics from Oregon. If the character of every one is to
be tested we are willing that the crucial test should be applied. It
seems to be proven, however, that fraudulent relics have p<issed
through Mr. Gass' hands, and no effort to break down the charac-
ter of those who have criticised his course will now avail.
A. F. Beri-in.
Allentown, Pa., May 22, 1886.
-o-
PRE-ADAMITE FOOT-PRIXTS.
Editor American Antiquarian :
In the issue of your valuable Journal for [November last — lately
received, I was sorry to see my article on " Foot-prints" misrepre-
sented and held up to ridicule by an anonymous correspondent,
I quote his language.
First, "It appears that ^Ir. Flint, among some really valuable
discoveries, came across what he believed to be two impressions of
the human foot on a rock in Nicaragua."
No one reading the report of their mode in the Antiquarian,
March, '84, would reduce the impressions to two. From the
space uncovered by me I had permission to remove two. From
outside parties I obtained two others, I sent all four to Peabody Mu-
seum; see report for 18S4, which advise your correspondent to
read; also the fourth and fifth line, page 1 12th of the Antiquarian.
They read " I uncovered six rows of impressions, breaking through
a layer of rock seven inches thick, over a space six yards by two."
After reading this how can he sustain his statement that I had
found two?
Like the newspaper critics, calling opt my letter in the May
number, he makes an amusing story, not (amazing as he calls
PRE-ADAMITE FOOTPRINTS. 281
mine), written like all of its class, with little attention to facts,
and no understanding of the subject treated; disseminating among
general readers false views of the most important discovery touch-
ing man's antiquity, yet found on this continent.
All this controversy originated from a similar article, published
as stated by the " El Porovenier," circulated in various papers of
the the U. S., one of which caused me to explain the matter in the
May number, mentioning the San Rafiel trip, (omitting men-
tion of a foot-print lately forwarded from there), and locating
those found there, in the tufa.
Second. From remarks on page 373 you also misunderstood me;
iny correction was in transferring the foot-prints from the sedi-
mentary rock to the tufas, thus augmenting their antiquity.
Had you printed the drawing of the strata, overlying the foot-
prints with my article, it would have been more convincing than
any argument of mine; it was all important to show the geological
age of the foot-prints. After the 5th eruption, there was a repose of
many centuries, during the accumulation of the clay. Above this,
and under the ash of the 6th eruption (nearly equaling in hardness
the tufas) we find fossil leaves and plant stems, distinct from those
of the lower layer, on which the foot-prints occur.
Now why is it an "error to assume that foot-prints found on the
surface of rocks are as old as the fossils beneath?" when that rock
is but a few inches in thickness, and was accumulated suddenly, or
in a few years, from volcanos in eruption? Your correspondent
must be unfamiliar with tufas or overlooked the fact that mv re-
iTiarks referred only to this class. The first eruption on which the
foot-prints occur, is more or less uniform, and at the location, about
30 inches in thickness, in the space worked over, (about 30 acres).
Volcanic ash predominates in its structure; and the time for its de-
posit wits not of great duration, nor the plasticity of its surface long
in hardening. The latter fact seems patent, for when uncovering
the impressions I noted an elevated ridge surrounding them, forced
up by the weight of the individual as he walked slowly along.
Parallel with one there was a row of oblong holes, seeming at
first sight to have been made by a wide staff, carried by the per-
son making the near impressions to aid him in walking, l)ut on ex-
amination I found they were foot-prints made by one who passed
earlier and sank deeper, the soft mass falling back and filling
the impressions; others were barely visible, made when the sur-
face was nearly dry.
That their authors were inhabiting the region at the time of the
eruption, seems evident, as volcanic ash, moistened in a fresh state
soon hardens, and will not resume its plasticity after drying, veri-
fied by experiment here.
With reference to the leaves, they were similar to those trodden
into the surface of some impressions. One among others given to
President Cardenas, I saw on the Palace Corridor, selected by the
Architect, from blocks of the lower layer, brought daily from the
quarry each containing a number, varying with their size.
232 THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN.
The natives ignoring their value took no measures to preserve
them, and thousands were lost.
Whether or not the authors of the impressions were cotempo-
porary with the fossil leaves on the surface, the stems of plants in
the layer of tufa, or leaves helow, is of minor importance, when
we find in eruptions succeeding it, after a long geological period
similar fossils of a distinct horizon, allied with others in seclimen-
tary rock, overlying the first tufa, owing its origin to one of those
succeeding eruptions.
Had I found the impressions at San Rafiel, as reported to me on
the sedimentary rock it would reduce their antiquity many centu-
ries.
Your correspondent can with little trouhle examine the Peabodv
specimens, and convince himself, that the rock when receiving the
impressions, was as soft as the sea-beach when trodden by
Crusoe's man Friday,* then admit them as pre- Adamite or not.
Unfortunately from the latter, we have no records, no Holv
writ, only their recognition in ours of another race, sustaining
the doctrine of distinct creations.
Why should the author of all life confine himself to one race of
human beings and multiply their monkey prototype?
Third. As to the " Sculptors" who passed through Nicaragua at
some period in the remote past being the authors^ or capable of
producing footprints, I cannot admit it. At least no sculptors living
or dead, can produce on the reverse of one of these blocks at Pea-
hody, a counter impression equal to to the original — the nature of
the material will not admit it.
The "sculptors" he refers to were preceded, by the prc-Incan mi-
gration coming from Bolivia, along the summit of the main Cor-
dilleras; their inscriptions are seen on the little island north of Za-
patero, on volcanic rock formed of eruptions from the latter, sub-
sequent to the tufa containing the impressions.
Subsequently the soil accumulated over the inscriptions on the
little island, preserved them. On this, the Idol sculptors set up
their handiwork, long after their predecessors had passed north.
See Antiquarian for Nov'r '82.
Fourth. Your correspondent says Mr. Priest takes the same
ground as myself in reference to a scroll in front of the imprints!.
Nothing of the kind occurred in my letter. Farther on he says.
"a multitude of tracks might possibly be mistaken for genuine im-
pressions." We have multitudes here, unfortunately mistaken for
human. Over two acres were quarried, the impressions were iden-
tical with those of the human race, whose feet were models of per-
fection: no flat-footed race, therefore must accord their authorship
to one of the monkey race, and make further search for some im-
pression with a caudal appendage.
Fortunatelv many acres remain, and when the museums become
rich, they can spend money to no better advantage, than sending
you rcorrcspondent here to quarry them out, and take the slab
*" That the imprints were made by the feet of men. while the material of which the rock ts formed
was in a plastic condition, there is not the least doubt" Report of Peabody Muaeum, 1844.
or
MORTUARY CUSTOMS OF THE PUYALLUPS. 288
home to refute my ^^amazing story?'* Asking Ends, in the mean-
time to invent a mode for transporting this three-league slah.
Fifth. A word about the cave inscriptions connected with the
"amazing story," and we will have done.
Fortunately the one referred to at San Raficl, requires no ar-
ument to prove its antiquity, filled as it was with solid sandstone,
deriving its material from sea sediment, uplifted by the 6th erup-
tion, this being carried by the annual floods, was deposited in lay-
ers of variable thickness. Between them were foot-prints of ani-
mals and birds, who had sought shelter there; at least we took
them for such, forwarding the animal tracks to Peabody.
If not removed since my visit, part of three inscriptions are still
under the sandstone supporting the roof, so left until my friend Dr.
Berendt, to whom 1 had written at Guatemala, could visit the
location.
-At no great distance from the cave, were decayed "shell-heaps,"
I could not then identify them with the cave dwellers.
The sedimentary rock covers immense beds in the neighborhood,
oysters of enormous size.
Oyster shells from these beds can be seen at the National !Muse-
^m, found near one of the caves, evidently alive at the time the
caves were submerged by the ocean sediment, at the upheaval of
^ne coast range, and used as food, judging from the Pliocnce
** K.itchen Middens," extending: southward alonjj the coast, and ex-
Plored by me for over loo miles.
Subsequent streams from the mountains have cut through these
^ Kitchen Middens," whose banks are solid masses of compact
^hells, in places over lo feet in height, and ^//contain fragments of
"Molten pottery, human, animal and fish bones; various excavations
^* those undisturbed, and covered with enormous trees, give like
^^'sults; these shells are all Pliocene.
The roof inscriptions in the cave, are far superior to any through-
^^t the State: Their authors probably saw the lirst eruption, how
*ong they had previously occupied the region is a matter of con-
J^^turc. Did they make the impressions? Did they belong to
y^stinct creations.^ Let your correspondent come and verify, the
^^cts for himself. He will-find them as stated.
Yours truly. Earl Flint.
Rivas, Nicargua, Jan. 26, 1S86.
MORTUARY CUSTOMS OF THE PUYALLUPS.
"^^. American Antiquarian :
At the death of a person of whatever sex or age, the first thing
ll^oticcable, is great mourning, expresssons of intense grief, which
^ shown by both men and women, in loud weeping. This is con-
TST" THE AMERICAN ANTIQUATHAN. ^^^
tttiticd limjj after the inlcrmeiit of the dcccastd. pvrliape Somr I
months at iht longest. However, its continuance is by women J
only, the weeping of the men hisling only a feiv days. When it I
is a CISC (if the longest time of mourning, the mourned for, is gcn-J
orally a child and a son who was very dear to the mother or mourn- 1
cr which is always the ease. '
For the place of mourning, the woman chooses a hidden spot,
far from any dwelling and where no one is likely to disturb or in-
trude upon her. To this sequestered spot she retires for a time
daily (generally morning is the time) when her very pitiful wail*
ing can be heard even from afar off. As the man weeps, he dis-
tributes a large portion of his jjroperty among the mourners pro-
portionately, as they arc more or less distantly related to the dc-
censed. He does this to express how much attachment he had tor
the deceased, consequently his grief.
As to their mode of burial, it seems evident that there was more
than one, in times past, hut so far as the writer can remember,
they always gave their dead, in the main, christian hnrial, the only
deviation being that, sometimes, they would put in a few duUani,
or something else rare and of high value among them, as a sacri-
fice in token of affection. Evidences of putting away the dead on
the branches of trees or on scaffolds arc gi\'en bv old canoes sup-
ported on branches of trees in which are found bones and skele-
tons. They probably put only a single corpse in a canoe wrapped
up in mats made of rushes. The dead arc deposited in regular
places reserved us graveyards. ^
If the deceased be a child, nil the old clothing, playthings, and
every thing else pertaining to him arc gathered and buried iusomc
place distant from the dwelling. His pets, such as dogs, are some-
times killed. These arc for the purpose of burying all memories
of his life, because if the bereft should see anything which would
bring hack memories of the happy past, it would bring back sad
thoughts of bereavement and thus add fresh grief.
The bereft family remove from their dwelling immcdiatelv af-
ter the death of the deceased because of the fear that some one else'
of the family may he induced to follow the dead relative. Thi«
comes from the belief that the spirit of the dead one will h«unt
their old dwelling ever after and, as a result from IhLs, somctimei
someone of the family sees the dep.irted one in his sleep. When
this happens, it is regarded as an omen of some coming misfortune-
upon the family.
A few years ago, when ever any person died, the relatives nnd
friends invariably laid the cause of his death on some tAntfd-u^'.
("medicine man") or ^fOTawH'tti OTflw, (Jargon) and if they did
not fear his relatives, the}' did not hesitate to have some one of their
number kill him at the first opportunitv. Such an occurence not
unfrequently caused bitter hatreds to rise between the friends of
the two parties chiefly concerned.
After the death of a pcrMUi, his or her name is never mentioned
for ihc reason idrcady slated. When this is unavoidable he is dcsig->'
THE MUSEUM. 285
natccl as "the one departed." Any thoujfht or convei*sation con-
cerning him is avoided as much as possible, and whenever it is un-
avoidable he is always mentioned with reverence. In this respect,
parents arc very strict in training their children. The observance
of this is not so strict after a period of several years when the
mourners have forgotten their grief; for if the deceased was a
man of years and famous for his achievements in life as a hunter or
^warrior, some descendant, a great grandson, for instance, is named
after him. The custom of avoiding speaking or thinking of the
deceased is not much observed bv those who are not relatives of
It
the deceased since they have no affection or respect for him.
♦Samuel R. McCaw.
The Museum.
DEVOTED TO THE INTERESTS OF COLLECTORS.
EDITED BY EDWIN A. BARBER.
As this department of the Antiquarian is designed especially
for the interchange of views amongst archseologists, the descrip-
tion of their collections, the illustration of rare or unique specimens
and the promotion of exchange, collectors are invited to
contribute items of interest, to furnish photographs or sketches of
antiqviities for reproduction and to take an active part in making
the Museum a repository for all sorts of interesting and valuable in-
formation concerning pre- historic relics. As it is not intended to
be strictly scientific, it is particularly adapted to the needs of young
collectors. Communications for this department should be sent
directly to the editor, at West Philadelphia, Pa.
A TOTEMIC AXE OR CEREMONIALMMPLEMEXT.
Mr. A. G. Richmond, of Canajoharic,N.Y., possesses a curious axe
or totemic stone, which has engraved on
one of its faces, in low relief, the head of
a wolf or fox. It is made of a soft, gritty
stone and is one-half inch thick in the
center. Its edges, which are blunt but
unbroken, indicate that it was intended
for ornament rather than use. It was
found on the surface, a few years ago,
in Montjromcrv Co., N. Y., in a location
once occupied by the Indians, just back
of the Mohawk River. The illustration
is one-third the size of the original.
•ITic author is a student in Eai Iham College and as a mcmbci of the Puyallup tribe is able to
speak intelligently. '-Eu.
283
THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAJN.
Amon(5St the : einains of the Lcnui Lehape or Delaware Indies
pipes are exceedingly rare Those whm.
have been found possess no tribal charact^
tics. The majority arc made of clay.
specimen now in the collection of Philip
Alfred Sharpless, of West Chester, Pa., ^
found in Chester Co. some years ago, an
here figured in its natural size. It is m
of a compact, light gray stone, is conical
form and absohitely perfect.
COLLECTORS AND COLLECTIONS.
In laying the foundation of a barn, in the town of Fleming, T
Y.,thc workmen unearthed, in the latter part of March, from ten '
fiftecTi human skeletons and about 7,000 beads, six brass kettlcr -
two guns, one sabre, a discoidal stt)ne, a clay pipe and several she
ornaments, the majority of which were procured by Mr. W. \V'
Adams, of ]Mapleton, N. Y. I lis collection now numbers I2,<
specimens.
liox. \Vm. Mc Adams, of Alton, III., has recently sold his entir^-^
collection of antiquities to the State Museum of Illinois. This i -
one of the finest collections in the United States. It contains j^^
human skulls from mounds; 100 grooved and 100 ungrooved ston<-
axes; 60 discoidal stones; 50 plummets and pendants; 50 mortar^
and pestles; 100 pieces of pottery, the majority of them perfect
vessels, some moulded in the form of men, animals, birds, fishefs
and shells; 50 stone pipes and carvings; several thousand arrovv^
and spear points, and a fine series of copper implements, such aJr^
awls, beads, ornaments, a copper axe and a shell with a carving of
a human face.
1
NOTES.
Mr. William Wallack Tookkr, of Sag Harbor, N. Y., ha«»
in his possession a glass rum bottle, of somewhat globular forni
and measuring about seven inches in height, which was found in.
1874, in a grave at East Hampton, Long Island. It is of a darlc
green color and similar to the one mentioned in a recent number of
the AxTiQiAKiAN, as having been found by Mr. W. W. Adams^
near Mapleton, in the same State. The former was one of nine?
which were placed in a circle around the head of a corpse. Associ-
THE MUSEUM. 237
atcd with the hottlcs were shell and copper heads, shell orna-
ments, stone pestles, pewter spoons and otlier objects. The graves
at East Hampton date back to about the year 1662, according to lo-
cal history.
Collectors of pottery and porcelain will welcome the appear-
ance of a valuable little work from the pen of Mr. Frederick Rath-
bone of London, the best authority on the productions of the
famous potteries at Etruria, entitled " Old Wedgwood and Old
Wedgwood Ware." It is a handbook to the collection formed by
Messrs. Richard and George Tangye, now being exhibited at the
Birmingham Art Gallery and Museum, and contains a sketch of
Wedgwood's life and labors and a chapter on the marks used at
Etnnia. It is embellished with fine engravings of twenty-five
representative specimens, and contains much interesting informa-
tion, acquired after many years of careful study, which cannot be
found in any other work. It is published by Mr. Rathbone, at 20
Alfred Place West, South Kensington, London S. W. Price one
shilling.
The Naturalists Companion, an amateur scientific paper,
is published at Brockport, N. Y. The archajological department,
\vhich will be the most prominent, will hereafter be edited by
Mr. Harry F. Thompson of Indianapolis, Ind,
The fourth volume of the Proceedings of the Davenport Acad-
emy of Natural Sciences has just been issued. This is by far the
most valuable that has been pulished by this energetic society.
It contains, amongst much other interesting matter, two valuable,
illustrated papers, one by Dr. W. J. Hoffman, entitled "Remarks
on Aboriginal Art in California and Queen Charlotte^ Island" and
another by Mr. W'm. H. Holmes on the "Ancient Pottery of the
Alississippi Valley," the latter being a study of the collection of
this Academy. The volume contains 347 pages.
RELICS IN SOUTH CAROLINA.
Editor Am, Antiquarian,
Your circular sent to me at Newberry, S. C, has been forward-
ed to me at this place. I take pleasure in giving you a sketch of
the relics I have accumulated at odd intervals during the past three
years.
My collection numbers about twelve hundred specimens and is
mainly from Newberry Co., S. C, with a few specimens from the
counties of Lexington and Richland. It consists of arrow-heads,
spear-heads, knives, scrapers, perforators, axes, belts, hammers,
mortars, discoidal stones, stones with cup-shaped depressions, (pig-
ment mortars?), whetstones, (these have been worn in grooves,
and were probably used for sharpening bone fishhooks and awls),
perforated tablets of slate and steatite, net-sinkers, pipes of stca-
288 THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN.
titc (angle of 60 degrees), fragmentary pottery of clay and
and steatite, and a ceremonial axe, perforated and two-bladed,
shaped like an ancient battle-axe.
The last named specimen I consider the most interesting one in
my collection. It is of diorite, and the only one, so far as I can
learn, that has ever been found in this part of the state. The ar-
row-heads show a great variety in form and material, and
among them are some fine specimens, bifurcated and serrated.
The majority, however, are white quartz, leaf-shaped. I have
classed as spear-heads four perfect specimens from four to six
inches in length, and from one to two inches wide, which resem-
ble greatly the knives or daggei*s figured in Plates I and II, Vol.
VII, Rep. of G, (& G, Survey West of 1 00th Meridian. I have
one spear-head of unusual size. Itisof diorite, ground, (not flaked)^
and is four inches long, two and a halfinchas wide, and nearly an
inch in thickness. It weighs twelve ounces.
Among my grooved axes I have a specimen which I am unable
to name. It is seven inches long, two inches wide, being near-
ly round below the groove, and pointed at the end. I give an out-
line. My idea is that it was an agricultual implement, a hoe, or
pick-axe.
A few years ago a friend of mine in Richland county, S. C.,.
gave me a number of shell-beads, perforated and polished, from
}^ to }^ inches in length, and about }^ inch in diameter. They
were plowed up on the banks of Broad River and with them
were found several human teeth, and fragments of a human skuU
These are now in mv collection.
I have also a few arrow-heads, bone awls, shell fish-hooks and
ornaments, and a little string of wampum, which I procured by ex-
change with Rev. Stephen Bowers, San Buenaventura, California^
My mortars are very rude. The largest, holding less than a
quart, is a round sand-stone weighing fifty or sixty pounds.
Very truly yours,
John Hawkins.
Prosperity, S. C. Jan. 23, 1886.
MEXICAN RELICS.
Ed. Amet lean Antiquarian:
I received some time since your little circular letter, requesting
a description of my cabinet. This is the first opportunity I have
had to comply. You may put me down as a subscriber to your
"Archajological Relics," It is just what I want.
In my collection the valuable specimens are all from Father
Fischer, excepting Nos. 131, 158 and 166. He is now an aged
man in indigent circumstances and found himself obliged to realize
on his "Antiquities." Being his intimate friend, he gave me pref-
erence as a buyer. In masks, labrets, articles of copper, malactls^
THBHOSECM.
wr-ringn, mwic-rings, musical inslruiiu'iits, biicc-hfiHls, etc., hiseol-
iL'clioii w:i>% second to no private one in Mexico, unci in niHny rt-
I^ccts superior til those in ihf Ntitlonitl MtiKCum here. T would
il«)Cflll special nntice to N<>s., to, 26, 34, 37, 55, 57, 7^, 91. 95t
<i(], 99, too, 109, iind the necklaces.
Oiihc 161S IoIn cln^God here <m]v twii — 132 iinil 137 Mie not
from Mexico, ami the iniliqiiity of all tlic others, except perhaps
four, is nndimhtcil.
The first 130 lots comprise the famous rischer Collection gath-
eii-d by the present curate of the San Cosnie Church — who was.
Hwritual iidviHcr to Maximilltan and member of his Cabinet during
the Second Empire.
LTcxcoean Idol; len^b 3x1 inches in ilinmetcr; cylindrical; aerpenlinp.
I CopptT iDslrumePts': Moaev :( t) or for Anicul mre.(?) See Annie* del MuscO'
I Vol. I. p. 3SS. See Blake'a Catnlojpiu N&t. Museum, p. lOO^square. 58.
I. Copper Instniments. See ©tier's Travels in Mexico, p. 544.
KAmuJcts: 34 in number: varyloK in size; Mvural (rom tlic Kamirez collec'n.
ft T(Cp«oecnn Idol of Clay ; hounehold idol : Qxi in. diam.
(TncockD Idol; Serpentine; 1x1^x8 in.
K Capper Chisels; Sin Dumber; 2 from Itamires coll'u: from 310 5 in. length.
I BptniUe Whorls; 6 nislaeils; ciny; all about 2 in. wide by 1 in. high.
Kntllidlen: 8 stonea; Bmall; varions sizes and from various pi acca.
•lAllcirnl Paper; strip 7x4 in.; not from Majruny fibre but tree bark; Stale
I of Vera Cruz.
tModern Paper; strip 10x4 in.;
KKccklaco; found by Dr. PenaHel in tumuliul Atonllcoel Orunde; 433tane
F beada; line.
EHuniiieT8;(!) 2; no speclmon in tliiscollectioa has groove except No, 85.
KHKBna; motl'n handle; 3 TL 4 in. Ions; S teeth of ubsidiau; each 3 In. stir.
KLtnoe Heads: 8; polygonal cores of obBidian iRpering to points; R in. long.
K^nriflcial Knives; 9: ol»idlan; polygons; fine ipccimens;4 to 5 in. long.
■ Copper Needles; 8; from Itamirez collection; il lo 6 In. long.
■ Tlucaltecao ldol;Sxlxl| in.; tlnesionc.
f TMiecao Idol; serpentine bead; high foreliead; book nose, unique.
I IW or Mask; Aztec IxlxMO.
D Dlomi Idola; rude; stone; 4}xl{x3) in.; 2 in number.
f Toy Spindle WborlH;(!)S p[eces;cylindrical;].3 in. diam; possibly amuk-ts,
KUpOraamenls; Truktkorlbxolet: 13; 10 of ubsidiao: 2 of rock agate;
KNNklacc: 8S beads; atoue. except one sulphate of Iron-
KXtrPeadant8;iV'in)(^i(/J/rj:iWi»f,- green sioDes:2.
HEtane Bend; I in. square; G boles, carved into the likeness of a rope knot.
BRunAier;(f) Texcocan; liiiuly worked; lapidary insirumem;(T) 2 1-2 x 12
I ia. dlaui.
^Amw Heads; II of obnidlan, 3 of fllnl; part of Ilnnilrc/. eollecrion.
IrBicrfflcial Knives; obsidian; used for drawing blood In pciilliincc; 0,
KDint; Obiidian ; 4 and G in. lr)ng;Tlalielolcu.
ftXnkold: marble; Cbotula; 4x3 12 in.
B^MT Heads; 16 innumlK;r;[roin 5 to 8 In. long; 2 to :} in. wide;flinl.
Klaalt ef Stone; 4 in number; Slate of Guerrero; green stones, very singu-
a marked.
WLorl; stone, and (bercfore rare; It in. diam by 1] iu higb.
old God; beauurul greenstone; Rainirex colltctiun; 3 cornered;
I SI 3x11 4 in.
Itnoutcholi] nnd; deep green stone; Itiiinirez cottcciion; Zspolccn
I Iw carvHig.
BaiirABtuidlC;!?) sionc; serpentine; hieroglyphic: cut llimugh as '
riUi B.
^40 THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN.
40. Ear-rings; obsidian; Ramirez collection; resemble sleeve buttons; very
delicate; 4.
41. Earrinirs ; 4 ;obsidian ; Ramirez col. thin as glass ; appear like toy wristbands.
42. Clasps(?) or Buckles(?); stone; very delicate; small crescents; Ramirez ; 5.
43. Nose rinps; 3; Ramirez; obsidian ;marvels of workmanship.
44. Relic of Nochc Triste, piece of the memorable tree under which Cortez
wept.
45. Shell Ornaments; Tepoztlan; 2 snail shells found in a mound.
46. Copper Wire; 2 pieces, each 6 in. long; each strand is of 4 fine wires.
47. Copper Belles; 9; all made of welded wire hammered together;
48. Stone Idol; beautifully polished; interesting coiflfure; quartz; 5 1-2x3 in.
49. Clay Idol; from Chalchicomula; hollow pottery; goddess; 6) -2 by 3 in.
50. Clay Vessels; rude and inferior to Aztec work; 4 pieces; Otomi(?).
51. Lance and Arrow Heads; 12; 7 flint; 5 obsidian; 1 to 6 in long; Texcoco.
52. Clay Idols; Texcoco; 6; (see Holmes Anc. Pot. Miss. Val.: Fig. No. 92.)
53. Stone Idols; 1 Chichimecan. 2 Otorai; all from excavations in Texcoco.
54. Stone Polishers; 8; all from Texcoco; 1 to 3 in long.
55. Ciay Pipe; Texcoco; (See Blake's Cat. Nat. Mus. Mex., page 103. Nos. 1 to 3.
56. Clay Mjiakoid; Texcoco; very peculiar; dark stone-like color; 4x4 inches.
67. Ornament ;(?) serpentine ;4i in. long; 1 in. diam. ; hole 1-2 in. diam. ; drilled
entire length; rude face of Tlaloc carved on surface.
58. Musical Instruments, 1 whistle of stone and 1 of clay; Otomi; small.
59. Mirrors; Texcoco; hemispheres; 2; sulphuretof iron; highly polished.
60. Bronze Chisels; 90 parts copper, 10 tin approximately, 2. See Vol. I, p,
117. Anales Museo.
61. Reptile Carving; Toltec; Snake; serpentine,
■62. Stone Flute; 6 holes; S^ in. long; lower end terminates in serpent head.
63. Stone Idols; Acolhuan and Otomi, 6; serpentine.
64. Stone Idols; 5; all of white stone; 4 human figures; 1 head of animal.
65. Stone Idol; 1; head and coiffure only; 6 small holes around chin; 5 holes
in head-dress.
66. Stone Idol; 1; Tlaxcaltcoan; 2x1 in.; resembles a swathed mummy.
67. Clay Idols: 4; Texcoco; 3 to 5 in. hijih,
68. Clay Vessels; 2; Texcoco; Ollas; one has figure of Tlaloc.
69. Fish;(?) Ramirez col.; called "tish." but for me it is an alligator; 4 l-2xlx|-
70. Musical Instruments: 2; 1 rattles ;(?); Tlaltclolco; 1 whistle; Texcoco.
71. DaTts;(?^ 2; Sin. lou;]^; bone; stone arrowheads riveted in the bone; Texcoco.
72. Temescal Mortar; from Bath of Nezahualcoyotl in the hill of Iztapalepen.
73. Obsidian Idols: 4; all different in head-dress; most choice examples : Aztec.
74. Obsidian Maskoid; teeth and whiles of eyes aie of bone skillfully inserted.
75. Obsidian Idols; 2; Chichimecan; Texcoco; found in excavating for sewer.
76. Zapotec Idol: green stone; very old: prism shaped.
77. Stone Idol; Mixtecun; highly polislisl : miy have had bone insoBlions for
eyes; arms folded.
78. Stone Heads; 2; Iluastecan; 1 to 2iu. squarvi; extremely odd in app3arance.
"79. Stone Amulet; 41-2.x2 m. ; thin green stone
80. Clay Rattles; 3; one is 24 in. long, one 12, and one 6 12 in. Guadaloupe.
81. Human Femur; Toluca Mound; 16 in. long; Matlanciniro.
82. Clay Dish: Toluca Mound. (See Fiji. 7; Holmes Ant. Man, site of Mexico.)
83. Copper Head; Tlnllf^loloc; hollow; "Most precious find of my col*.." Fischer.
84. Copper liell ; moulded, not welded ; Tenansrodel Valle.
85. Stone Idol; Teotihuacan; 4 1-2 in. high; hammer with groove for handle(*)
Human figure.
86. Amulet; Zapot; 3; 2x1 1 2x1-2 in. Serpentine; Face.
87. Clay Idols; Cholula; 3; 1 is possibly modern judging from the head-dress,
88. Ear Pendants;(?) obsidian; marvels of skill; 4 hollow cylinders 2 in.
89. Stone Goddess; 3 1-2x1 Jxi in; white stone.
90. Clay Object.«;; 2; ^ arc European heads from an old tumuli in Tecometl;
probably portraits made soon after the Conquest; by Tarrascan Indians.
91. Rock Crystal Skull ; 1 1 2x1 1-4x1 in. ; carved in exquisite proportions; Aztec,
92. Clay Idol; Tlaltclolco; 4 1 2x2x1 ; household god.
93. Stone Maskoid; serpentine; 6 1 2x5 1 2x1 i in. ; heavy; eyes inlaid: Grim.
^4. Clay Dishes; similar toFigs. 7 «fe 8; Holmes Ant. Afan, site of Mexico; 2.
THE MUSEUM. 241
95. Cinerary Urn ; stone ; 9x8x7 in. ; face carved on lid and end ; serpent on side.
96. Large Stone Idol; 14x9x8 in. ; "IndioTri^te;" master piece of perfection.
97. Rattle;(?) clay 3x1 1-2 in. diam. ; possibly pot leg; Tlaltelolco.
98. Clay Idol; Tacubayo; Hxlxf; diminutive, but well defined markings.
99. Coyote Head; obsiaian; exquisite; bole for suspension as amulet.
100. Sword; obsidian; 171-2 in. lon;^: 6 in. wide; largest piece in Mexico.
101. Hcmispheie; obsidian; 4| in. diam. ; polislicd mass; use unknown.
102. 3Iarble Maskoid; 5 in square; 8 in. thick; small holes vwrtmd in corners
of eyes and mouth for secuiing inlaid bones; precious.
103. Serpentine Maskoid; 5 1 2x5x2 In.; face full of expression; corners of eyes
and mouth have tenonn for holding precious stones. These tenons are
the exact counterpart of the mortises in No. 102.
104. Clay Vessels; 3; one is an incenser; all from Zincantepec.
105. Clay Vessels; 21 ; all sizes; from Teuango del Valle.
106. Lance Points; 2; 10& 12 1-2 in. long; tlmt; a rare size; Iluejotzinco.
107. Musical Instrum'ts; 1 clay whistle. 1 rattle or bells, sonorous; Tlaltelolco.
108. Head of Monkey; Mextecan; clay; 2x2xlf in.
109. Censer; exactly same as Fig. 12 of Holmes Ant. Man on site of Mexico.
110. Copper Tools; 2; Sand in. long; 2 in broad; Guerrero.
111. Rlone Idols; 5; from Tasco (ancient Tlaxcto); peculiar green stones.
112. Bone Mask; Ramirez collection: 1 1-2x2 in.
113. Stone Idols; from State of Guerrero 5; 3 to 5 in. high.
114. Clay Idols; ^ from Tlaltelolco; one is Quetzalcoatl.
115. Amulets; 2; Tlaltelolco; agates.
116. ''Seals" or '^Stamps;*' 16; all from Tlaltelolco but one, (Tasco); see Blake's-
Col. Nat. Mus. Mex.. page 103.
117. Amulets and Idols; 9; Texcoco; 6x2x2.
118. Tlaloc; Stone Idol; Shores of Lake Texcoco; 6x2x2 in; quartz.
119. Amulets or Beads; " *' •• 25 buttons of blue stone.
120. Copper Awl; bone handle; 8 in. long; rare.
121. Necklace; 58 beads; stone; 3 ft long. ) Some of these beads are each 3 in.
122. " 33 •• •* 28 in. long. ) long with holes drilled lengthwise-
123. Stone Maskoid; Tlaltelolco; 4x2 1 2x1; white marble.
324. Clay Figures; Tlaltelolco; 4 to 5 in. high; warriors.
J25. Clay Vessels; 7; Toluca; range from 3 to 10 in. high; fine collection.
*«8. Stone Pedestal; 16 1-3 in. diam ; 10 m. high ; heavy; base of a pillar.
loo" ^^^^^c® J *^ beads; some rare stones.
1^ Stone Mask; 7x6x1 in. ; eye and mouth holes go clear through mask.
iS* ^^^"^*^ Tooth of Mastodon; Zacualpan ranch of Ex-President Gonzales,
j30. Necklace; 19 beads; some fine stones.
^®1. Hieroglyphic Painting; 5 ft square; on 4 deer skins joined together with
thongs; represents a great cavern with sentinel at entrance; inside are a
number of "Tiger Warriors" with prisoners for sacrifice; also priest on
summit of pyramidal temple sacrificing; many Aztec hieroglyphic sym-
bols on walls of cavern ; (though the painting came from Oaxaca.) Have
iqo <^fiTC^ to send it to the Smithsonian for inspection and opinion.
1^. Reed Flute; 3 holes; purchased from Apache scout, Deming, N. M.. 1881.
i'^. Polisher; i)ale green marble; hour-glass shaped; Texcoco; 2 1-2 long by 2
inches wide.
*«i. Serpentine Idol; -4 in. long; Otomi; rudely finished.
185. Clay Goddess; 8x5x1-2 in. ; Tlaltelolco: flaring head dress.
iS' ^?^ God; porphyry; 3x2x1^ in. ; carved in bass relief; singular markings.
i*». Necklace; deer bones; jointed to resemble rattle-snake; from Apache wo-
men; 19; Apache, 1879.
1^. Polisher; 2xl| in. ; amber color; like petrified gum.
12' ** 1 1-2x1-2; obsidian; barrel-shaped; high finisL.
?*y« Idol: serpentine: rude attempt of an Otomi: 2xixi in.
«1. Amulet: serpentine: Ixfx^: heiroglyph same as 17 m Fig. 9, page 54;
Am. Antiquarian, Jan. 1886.
J«' Whistle: black ware: Nonoalco (possibly modern), 4 holes: snake: 10 inlg.
Ij8, Necklace: 17 beads: stone: bone and shell: all very small, 3 excedingly so.
jH Arrow Heads: so small may have been toys for bovs: 11 : all obsidian,
i«. liip Ornaments: 3 obsidian: 1 rock crystal: Aztec "Labrets,
242 THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN.
146. Buttons ;(?) so culled from their resemblance: 2: Malachite.
147. Labrets: 2: obsidian: unusually larj^: high polish.
148. Sphere of Lava: 5 in. diam: cone-shaped holes drilled to center from op-
posite sides: found in Amecameca.
149. Face, of white stone: Ixf in. Toltec.
150. Head: Perpentine: 112x1: Toltec: curious head>dress.
151. Amulet: serpentine: curious heiroglyph: Ixf-.
152. Deer Skinners: stone: 3* chisel shapes: polished.
153. Fetiches :(?) Aztec : 2 : odd shapes: one of dull obsidian : 1 of polished marble
154. Heads: small: Teotihuacn: portraits(?).
155. Handle of Knife: obsidian: tapering to a point like rat-tail file.
156. Sacrificial Knives: 4: obsidian: very sharp.
157. Masked Warrior: Aztec: clay: arms and legs wanting: 2x1 2 in.
158. Flint Dagger: 81-2 in. long: 2 1-2 wide at butt: excavated at Tula: 1885.
159. Head: Totonac:3x2 1-2x1 in.: porphyry: expression of pain.
160. Macana Teeth: obsidian: 7: 3 m. square each.
101, Mortar: lava and lime mingled: Temescal at Itzapalapan ruins.
162. Unfinisbed Ornaments: 2 tentetl: one ear-ring or '*sleeve button:** Labrets
of Crystal.
163. Copper Arrowhead ipoint bent : claimed found in cypress trunkChepultepec.
1 64. Chocolate Criaking Cup: cocoanut shell Orecque carvings : Orizaba.
165. Serpent fighting Tortoise:: black ware from Nonoalco, and therefore
open to suspicion.
166. Cast: plaster: ideographs: from Palenquc
Besides the above I have perhaps 150 articles — heads, "candle
sticks," little gods, etc., gathered by the writer and his family du-
ring visits to Cholula and Teotihuacan recently — and which have
not yet been labeled or classified. I have also many imitations
or frauds.
In a recent number of Science^ Mr. Holmes has written a
timely article on "The trade in Spurious Mexican Antiquities."
I can give some corroborative evidence, having accidentally stum-
bled upon the factory on a recent trip to the Pyramids of San
Juan Teotihuacan.
Yours hastilv,
W. W. Blake.
THE PICTURE CAVE OF WEST SALEM.
243
Editorial.
THE PICTURED CAVE OF WEST SALEM.
A NOVEL INTERPRETATIOX.
Wc give below a translation by W. D. Hampton, Mount Victo-
ry, Ohio, of the pictured cave at West Salem. We have received
guesses of this kind before; guesses at the meaning of the various
tablets; guesses at the meaning of the inscribed figures upon rocks;
guesses at the meaning of symbols of various kinds. This one is
more elaborate, and complete than the most of them and we there-
fore present it with the cuts, but make several enquiries in con-
nection with it.
Translation by W. C. Hampton, Mt.
Victory, Ohio : A party of twelve war-
riors encamped around this cave, and
built a fire within. This was a war
party, one of whom was armed with a
bow and arrows, another had a bow,
arrows, and war club; one was armed
with a gun, and ^\q had long lances or
spears. The remaining four were
prisoners of war, one of whom was a
leader or chieftain.
I 2 3 ^'>K» M.
Fig. 15.
Explanation: — i. See cave with
fire within, and 12 marks around it for Fig. 16.
the 12 warriors, who also represented by 13 implements of war
(2) The figure of the man holding his arrow in his left hand; near
him is a war club, bow and arrow for another man and
each one of the other implements representing a man, making
twelve in all, corresponding to the marks or record around the cave.
24i
i
THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN.
(3), TKe triumphal arch of spears, represent conquest, an emblem
used by the Romans and most other semi-savage nations, and to
another spear is attached a hand-cold like that used on a sword,
which I presume denotes authority or leadership. I think that
this is an Indian Record and was made after their acquaintance
with the whites, from the sword handle to the spear.
I. It will be noticed that the conventional symbol in Fig. 14,
Fig. 17.
is here translated a fire within a cave. This symbol was inter-
preted by Rev. Mr. Brown, the first discoverer of the cave, as per-
haps an altar with its ascending flames. In confirmation of this the
marks in Fig. 17 are also called flames or possibly ears of corn.
As to these last we would say that they were probably nierelv
creases made in the rock by the process of sharpening arrows and
Fig. 18.
were not flames at all ; but as to the first we are in doubt, flame
is undoubtedly signified but whether camp fire or an altar or the
the sun was signified by it is the question ; on this we ask informa-
tion.
2. It is said that there are four prisoners of war in the party
and twelve implements of war indicated by the marks in Fig. 15.
Two of these marks are, however, said by the same writer to rep-
resent an arch and one a spear w^ith a handle. We would ask if
. these marks are used in a double sense. The triumphal arch o£
in Fig. 15(2) resembles to our eyes a series of turkey legsai
THE PICTURE CAVE OF WEST SALEM.
245
^^^
u
"f~"T\\
sword or spear (3) with a handle is nothing hut a conventional sign
which is very common. The discoverer of the cave thougfht that
^ne next figure represented a plumed warior with a war club near
^i^ left hand and his interpretation seems reasonable. Fig. 16. His
opinionwas that the long marks represented weapons, spears and
arrows.
3. It is said of this whole inscription that it represents a war
part Y armed with a bow and arrow and that these five warriors
armed with lances had
four prisoners; while one
had a war club and one a
gun. We notice, how-
ever, in Fig. 18, that a
party is pictured in the act
of hunting or shooting an
animal like a deer and that
the attitudes all represent a
hunting scene. One of the
hunters has a little boy
with him who seems to be
^'^- *9- verv much astonished at
at tl^c appearance of the animal and at the father's success in shoot-
ing tilie aiiimal. We ask the question whether the picture was not
intended .as a record of a hunting expedition and the marks over
the fire may not be explained as 12 days and the marks which look
like t:urkey legs do represent the number of fowls which were
shot-
4- It will be noticed that several animals are represented in the
picture, some of them
apparently with ar-
rows sticking in their
sides, others as lolling
with their tongues
protruding from their
mouths, and others in
various attitudes and
tHat human forms are
associated with the
figures in various at-
titudes and shapes.
In reference to each
"^dividual it is not
^y to give an inter- Fig. 20,
pretation and yet we think that our readers will see the reasona-
Wcnessof this view. We call attention to Fig. 19. — Rev. Mr.
Brown considers that it represents a wounded animal with the ar-
^w near the wound. This is the conventional figure of the arrow,
***^ the interpretation is probably correct. We notice next in Fig.
^that the bufifalo is represented with mouth open and tail as if in
'^on as in fly time. The tail being represented three times. It
246
THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN
would seem from this that it was hot weather and the animal was
very much affected by the heat. Another buffalo in the picture is
however not so affected. This animal has the hump and horns of
the buffalo but has no hoofs as in the preceding figure.
As to the animals which are represented by this hunting scene
there may be a difference of opinion.
There are fifteen animals in the cave. These are named bv Mr.
Brown as follows: the deer, the
elk, the bear, the wild cat, the rab-
bit, the badger, the otter, two buf-
falo, the mastodon, hippopotamus
Fig. 21. ^"^1 the bird. We have seen that
two of these may be easily recognized, namely: the deer and the
buffalo. The elk. Fig. 19, is however not so easily recognized,
though it is not difficult to distinguish it from the deer. Fig. 18.
The badger is, however, plain. Fig. 21, the peculiar form of the
head being quite characteristic. The bear also may be seen, though
its figure is very rudely
drawn. As to the mastodon
and hippopotamus. Figs. 23
and 24, we think that Mr.
Brown drew considerably
on his imagination, and yet
the figures will admit of al-
most any interpretation. Mr.
Brown also thought he rec-
ognized the canoe among
the inscriptions, though it
is more likelv that the cres-
cent of the moon and the Fig. j^.
thunder bird is intended. Upon the whole we should conclude
that the pictured cave at West Salem was intended to represent a
hunting scene, and fhat it was
made by modern Indians. In
this. we agree with our corres-
pondent and would refer to
mbols for speech which
seen near the mouths of
1 of the animals in the
ure. We refer to the inter-
pretation of our correspon-
i.:„ ,^ dent in order that others mav
be led to study the conventional signs which are most common and
that by the mutual aid which we may give one another that the
clue to the correct interpretation of the pictorial signs may be
gained and animals among the inscriptions and mounds.*
\n ¥^1/ t-^ severa
\J y pictun
THE SERPENT EFFIGY IN WISCONSIN. 247
THE SERPENT EFFIGY IN WISCONSIN.
The editor of this journal has taken durinj^ the present season
several explorinor trips to different groups of emblematie mounds
in Wisconsin. One trip was in the direction of Green Lake in
search of the elephant effip^y concerning which Mr. T. II. Wise
and the President of the Davenport Academy of Sciences have
spoken somewhat confidently. The result of the trip was to dis-
prove the existence of any such effigy. The place was reached
and the very spot examined but the effigy which was called the
elephant was entirely obliterated, not the least resemblance to an
elephant could be traced. The gentlemitn accompanying us also
informs us that this was the condition of the mound when Mr.
Wise made his report concerning it. It now appears that the ef-
figy was never plotted or measured or even drawn on paper, but
the report stated from the expression of Mr. Mitchell, who lives
at Green Lake and who is a diligent explorer and collector of
relics, that in his opinion the effigy originally represented the
elephant.
The expedition resulted in other discoveries and concerning these
wq would speak. Before reaching the spot where the effigy was
supposed to be situated we visited a group of mounds in the same
county but some ten miles east. Near Utley's Quarries, Green Co.,
we found a number of interesting effigies. Among them two
massive panthers, two buffaloes in the attitude of running, one im-
mense cougar with tail raised as if threatening an attack, but more
important than all, two or three serpent effigies. Two of the ser-
pent effigies are situated on the low land, just below the cougar.
Thev run across a swail, but mount to the summit of a natural
ridge, the ridge forming the body of the serpent but the artificial
part being the tail. The peculiarity of the effigies is that they cor-
respond to the serpentine character of the stream which they border.
Each consists in part of a natural formation and in part of arti-
ficial effigies, the natural and the artificial combining to bring
out the serpent shape. The stream itself is very tortuous and the
ridge which borders it is also strangely contorted, and it is plain
tliat the two suggested the idea of the serpent, but the artificial
part brings out the shape, the folds of the serpent and the very
rattles being exhibited by it but the body blends with the natural
ridge so as to make the two seem like one effigy.
The coujjar which crowns the summit of an isolated knoll or
small "drOmmel," overlooks thes serpent effigies, and presents
the same "double'** form, the ridge or knoll being completely cov-
ered bv the bodv, but the tail runnin<j out to the bluff, on an ele-
vatcd ridge which connects the two. The cougar is so large that
it would escape ordinary observation, and would be mistaken for a
248 THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN.
natural formation, l)ut when seen it becomes the more imposing
from its elevation above the surrounding land.
Near these effigies is an enclosure, the wall of which presents
also the serpent effigy. It is an enclosure 60x120 feet in diameter,
with an opening toward a mineral spring called Gleason's spring.
It is situated on a bluff, about 50 feet high, the edge of the bluff
being very tortuous, and probably suggesting the effigy as the
folds of the serpent and the line of the bluff correspond. The wall
around the enclosure is very low, a slight elevation above the
ground but presents in its form, all the folds of a serpent, the head
and tail of the reptile serving as the guard for the entrance way or
opening. In measuring the folds of this serpent effigy, wc dis-
covered a remarkable uniformitv, the distance between each bend
being about 23 feet. The effigy resembles the well known ser-
pent ring which was seen by Stephens on the wall of the so-called
gymnasium at Chichen Itza, but differs from it in that it is single
and not double. We have discovered elsewhere in the state ser-
pent effigies, one near May ville is formed by a natural ridge w^hich
had been modified by art. This was made to serve as a guard
to a large plat of garden beds, which may be seen close by the ridge.
Here we have the same effigy, but it is made to protect an enclos-
ure, exactly as the snake effigy protects the enclosures in Ohio.
The wall is not so massive as those around the Ohio enclosures,
but it corresponds in size and distinctness with the emblematic
mounds, and may be regarded as intended to represent the same
object, and probably originated from the same superstition. It is
another evidence, of the extent of serpent in America.
The localitv where these effijjies are found is remarkable for
several reasons. There is a spring in the neighborhood called
Bishop's spring, which rises out of the high ground and then disa-
pears, but issues from the rocks below the bluffs, as a wide and
vigorous stream. On this stream, is the serpent effigy. Glearon's
spring issues from another bluff. These are limestone bluffs.
Opposite them is a lofty precipice, which is formed by a granite
column which projects above the valley, the only granite bluff to
])e found in the region. The natural and artificial features of the
scene make it worthv of a visit from archajolojjists and scientists
generally.
NOTES ON EUROPEAN ARCHAEOLOGY. 249
NOTES ON EUROPEAN" ARCH.EOLOGl.
BY HENRY miLLirS, JK.
Dii. P. Adalbert Dungel contributes to the Miltheiluuijen of the Aii-
throp. GauiUsuhaft in Wien, XV", 2. a paper on the tumuli near Kilb anil Mank,
in Niederosterreicli, about 75 in number. lie had opened 44 of the scries and
found in 14 traces of a construction of stone, in others only earth. Some indi-
cations of creniatrori Avere also discovered, as well as fragments of pottery,
iron nails, and objects of bone, glass iScc. ; also some bronze coins of the reigns
from Claudius to Hadrian.
Dr. Josep Szombatiiy made some remarks on the Technique displayed on
Prehistoric pottery.
Dk. Vid Vui.eticii VuKASOvrTCH made a communication on the remains in
the island of Brafc (Bol), in Dalmatia. Tumuli had been examined, and
among other objects found, was a gigantic stone crocodile, provided with can*,
according to some mythological superstition.
Dr. Josef Szombatiiy made a communication on a find of Ring-money in
Hungary, at Maehren. which is now in the Hof-muscum; some of which" are
Tcry finely worked.
Dr. Michael Haberland made a communication on the extent and sig-
nification of the practice of Tattooing.
Dr. Moritz Hoernes made a communication on some recent findj of
Greek remains at Keros and at Alpheus, in the bed of the latter river. At the
former, sU^ne figures were discovered, at the latter, a fragment of a bronze
corselet, on which were represented human figures and bulls of the most ar-
chaic type. The hair of the men and women is braided in an arrangement
similar to that seen on the Assyrian sculptures.
A NU.MBER of cave dwellings now exist near Langenstein, in Saxony, in-
habited for over thirty years. This is a curious instance of the survival of the
"old in the UQwr— Nature 848, /?. 303,
Prof. Acocst Tiiirirscii contributes a paper to the Cjrr. Bl<iti iW DjutscU
Anthrop. GeselUchaft, ( XVHI, 1 and 2,) on the late excivations at Kempten,
to which is added a plan of the village and a sketch of the localities in which
the explorations have been carried on. The remains are of a Roman period.
Prof. Carl Jmaska contributes to the same periodical a notice of a Jadeite
axe found in Maehren, of which he is the discoverer and owner. It was origi-
nally in the mineralogical collection of Martin Kreky, and after his death
came into the possession of Dr. ££. R<;mes. where it was di.««covered by Dr,
Maska to be of artificial origin. Microscopic examination shows the axe to be
of the same substance as the Swiss, German, Italian, and some of the French
jadeite implements.
Dr. II. SciiAAFiLVUSKN Contributes a paper on the development of the hu-
man handwork, and thr^ influence of material upon the Art-form, going at
some length into these interesting subjects.
Dr. C. Merlis contributes a paper on the date of the building of the Mid-
dle-Rhenish Ring- Walls.
Dr. Fred. Loscu contributes to the Wuert. Vierteljahresheft a paper on
£9A THZ ^TffUmT A5T5JiC%]Ci>.
u joAiiKiesd. 'iv' 'tis Jidl^'iitxiiu
DfL Lhihis riiurfhiiiifs :n -lie
^wrarim. <iae init ~7o -siis*si . '.tuur* VDna,
p. T!l. la "lie ^rrmixjrc jazlu'iine» if tie <>]is:aiisa «■£ cftBr I^bbb of
£>«. P krr. Z.rnz:35icz •zsmribnies ui :lie Ks. •£» Td
&e ^9S4» la icnriiinc if % 'tiisss. :a7r>!f lear fftibn-iBufr wiuek bki
la indl rjuiie i nscsnc piKuiL
Tor F'.iiiio-'>i!:r:eaae Shsecj -if HisisDc^fSm lias josc
h^r 'if Jji ;nnmni. a. aaadHoine ^^vri. wiiiL 'lilnscraoniiaL .— .
vttU!iL it tnacaizM its Uuitfe ly- Xitssn. Ajpeiiiu >xl dhe sfie of
RiRikfd. on "ihe mnacmccoa if :2ie ^rpicil KipiriDe iiooae*. !
«uiif of :lu» lif!tn T xciuiaa louin^ ::ie KiriTTaxu). ami Dc Ddoaer. ^oa
liuennt* otfemi:r pJaci*» in 'in* Cml 31*9 This j ecietac r coaizfibarc»
QrvmuH/ TUiiaJilH ^ir^ 4ii:i*T:ax "ii^i .»^ if^g m loii 011^:3x31x1 of the
yr/TES OX JLKERTCAX ETH50D3GY.
BT D •?. nanrrox x. d.
ErHxouxiT '- r VEytzriLA. — TTie ciry .:f Merliiu ia Venraaeti. look* iiL(
dift'f.r.t.n 'fj'K.M.rirlifi pb:!» -ariiicii frin^'he f)«:rier5of lake Xincairbo. and in
t'.u^ •'ipp#,*»ir<! ^i:ir*t^r ^ow-tri x *«fr:i» of Li:f 7 :iini m:rjtd mounrain raaseeSv oat-
Ijin-jT 'pun '.f rhi* jrpac Azidoria i:Lain. Ia tlierHi znoonraia f zistnesses York ti-
r:'>»i.i rirmana'L* >? A:;«:r:r:iiiii *rL'j«j. li'.Lle r:nn?v«f: from tbe sav^ise cooditioii,
-in<! nn Mf .y ;;7inr ''.& 'h#? saMri; pr xim.-L- -^f rile s:iL A worthy local «rilmolocist.
yi'f.t.rJ-.'t' Ijrnr.o LdPrs. L...- had 'he bappj ia-piraJioato Ti^icand stadr thct^
ft*jffr,'tti >„f:n'i't *,i tL*? .mcurn: :niKibr;iar5. r.> mnp o»i; tbeir l43c:ilicjes, to
!/'^»rr. uirir r :;«.r..fn.-. aaii :o '-bruiia vix'ubi-laher of tlieir diaI*n:L*. Hb ccm-
pUiff r^r^i;::- havx not vi.-r. Uren p«i!iiL*b*ii. bu: in »f\:nict of them is ^^cn by
Or F^rr..-r. ofOiracri.-, ia rhe Ztit.^hnf* f.,,- K^.'if>u>*jii:. Seccr Liires cites tbe
rt;im*-M of .1 ^rKic m^iny . i;;;i;xf^. leach havin;^ usaj^e* and dialectic pecaliaritkd
^f i-.-e o-^n. J.*. U i.f opiaioa tha>u all i.f thcci p-i?s*?nt traces of adili:&tioQ with
far Mi.'xiLi -r.,<.;i. *u.aJ ■Hrmi 'r;vili2eii r..i::r..a wlii.jli iahabitetl at the time of
^1.1: «;;.-^ f./'-ry Mk; f'.ri!*: and aurifrroii? valit-pr* <^f the ancient CuDdinamarca.
Ti.^' '(/.ii ri'irr. ♦.t «/ iainbi:aar.'i of part or wLi»:Io native bit>:<l in the depart-
rni-r.r o:' \i*:T\tli. ia iLc y».ur l*»Sl wa-s ♦rsLiniatini a; about TOjX*} ^lersons.
Tftr;;K.- OF Flcif \TorirvL Bbazil. — Diirin:: a s<.ientitic ciploratioQ of the
r«'rri'.,ri»->* Jirijnr.i-nt to Fr»-n«;li Giiian.i. in l>>:5and ISS4. M. Henri A. Coudreau
vj-ir*:f| and (,ht'A\t.K\ vi.raKulari* s fn m -<.n:e Leretr-f'-rv almost unknown tribes^
Of rh» w: fl.f Tij'::ir:'.- f.r D;»<.i::ind rhi; Tarim«> • -r Jjivis live«^n the River Uaupcs,
a ronfirj'iarioD r,f rh'r kio »irro. In the Af'-h .',h ,fr l> SW*:'^*' Aunfncttine (k
Hf.t-.rr, Torn. HI. pr. ^>. a v»y:ibu!.iry «>f the />w.v. cod tain i nil a Ix>ut 350 words,
i'. prinf<-f]. T'-u^-rlwrr wiUi a -horter li-t of the ether dialect named. Their affini-
fj'M hivj- no' vft U#rn -tudi<.d. but in -reneral phonetic character, as, for in-
••t;mr»'. in rh*; iibundanrc of vowel *oun«L?, ih»-y resemble the Carib and the
Tuf/i U-"AV;#.n whi/:h L^nut linzui^ric stock:* rhey are L:et.:rraphically situate.
^'on.<- -f,*rinl inrcr»"-t affur h«s to thes#? dialecr's j<; the horJes that speak them
anr by w,rr»^- Ujlicvrd to In: d^-^endants of the aucien*; miirratorv bamU dc
NOTBS ON AHBRICAH BTHNOLOGT. 8S1
scrilml ox Amar/ins hy :bc rnrly writers. Tlie real origin of IliDt Icgr&d is.
Iiovivter. a sinkine instnnce of Prof. MaJt Milller's theory of llic lormotion of
myths from mistaKlDg tbe mcnnlng of words.i Tlie niitlTO word Anuvnnm.
incnna a t^rrenl or ranriDg muss of water, und vn» Applied lo the dnn^rous
htrm at. tlie moulli of Uio Ainiizon , Conveyed to European cavs. it tiecamc as-
wx^lutui with llii; clitsslc kf^enil ot the AmuKonfi.and led to the storjrof a nalion
of fcinBlo warriors on this strenni. I am nstonialied thai IhU simple ciplana-
n iscapnl ili« nciilencss of Vou Miirtiu?. [Compare his discusaton of ilic sub-
■«. In Ins Kt/iitag. <t Spnie/i. Ainenkan. Ufl. I. a. 720).
^cxTiKd A%D Fisnma lupLBUG^n-s of tiib FraoiAss.— From Sepiomber,
t unlll September 1883 lUe French Bovernment mnmlaiuctl n BcicDtinc
Wofolracrvalion close toCnpe Horn, wllliin the territory occtipiitl by the
igna Indians. Dr, ll^atlcs. Ihc Eurp;ou of the corps, Interested himself
1 •.Xeir ctudy anil especially in Ibek' methods of procuring food. This was
■^— tcipally by hunting and flsliiu^. and to aid tliem ta these pursuits they had
'"il n vnriuly of lugcnious primitive iniplemeDts These are described with
rous illitslmtions in tlic Hreiit d' EthnograpAif, Tome IV, No. VI. They
— xisl of boshcls, lines, spciirs, liarpiwns, arrows with sloue or bone bends,
B. Traps and snores nru usl-iI Io some ciiunU The n^hhook wan nrob.ibly
Bi»t kuiiwn to ilieiu. but Ihcy caldi fish far more nipldly by means of a baited
lino wlili BNllp-noatu at llic end of it, tlian the European sailors can with Ihu
hi'jat. mndc hoolcs. Thu statement of Darwin and Filzroy that ihc women arc
fu«"«;«<l 10 enter Ibe cold wawr at all seasons lo collect sea-urchins and crabs is
xally denied. Indeed, Dr Hyades' nrti(.'le leaves the Impression (lut these
r wretched, are nut so blacU as they have been painted.
m woawh
[*nK OuAT»i Indians.— .VII anti(|uanes nte familiar with the little gold ini-
r'^ which have been di^iuttrred from Iho graves of Cbiriqui. in tlie siale
V'vriti;uu4. Ceoind America. Tlicy arc remarkable for their dellciite designs
ill %-rry kiw icMi'f. produced by hammering gold threads into a hsckground
111 till.' 6,1111..' nut 111, Some years ago— about If 57-8, largo oumbtrs ottlictu
wt^ru uliiaiiR'd fnicn the Uiima*. or ancient sepulchral lumuli, near llio shores
ul (.IjL! null of (Jbiriqiii. As the Gulf was surrounded by suTcrnl tribes of dlf*
IiTi^iit lioguisllc alUaities. it bus ri'iiinlued u,n open qucslionos Id which of
ihc^^^i >iii)uJd b« repirdwl us it:e ili'dcttiilunis of llic m^inufoclurcrs of iheso in-
iiiri-s.iiii^' rplies. The qUL'sti.in now ni'ciii.i lo liedccidv.l by the invest igal ions of
il(i> Mdlknown IniviOLr iiuil ui b no 1 agist, M.Atphonae Piimrt. inaroiniuunica-
iii'u liLli.i- i,;.(iin |.ul,;i-ljiil in \iiis BHUftiniixiaS'Ki.i: .'< Oi'-n ■■•'!■'"■ 'h' I'.irb,
ii' ii.iri.ir. . Ill,- rii.';ii''iii- 1,1 ;y jDiiruey be occonipllsln-i| ii..iu riLin,]iii '.iulf on
""' :i'>ri(i ..i.-i iiir ,:[jii.i: .--ii-iTa, tolheshoroaor ibr I'.iii'ii' "11 111!' - b. In
iiii ■ ^-.-i.iii 11,.- I, ,in.-- .,1. -I 111 largely in a wildsiair. .ni'l n wi- ..-ii^ by ex-
"■•""lii.ii.. ,-.:::,,!,, .1.1.1 iT '■onsldcmbic peril ili:ii ii. . i1. ■ 'i-l "r irunsit.
''"-''■I'l.. ^.ll■.l:l iielong to Ibo Quuiim- !■■■! M !■ '. iM'lJcves
'"■'^ "'M .li.; u.ii:\ .|,v. :■ i.nt;iraiUeshore. uadLvij--- 1 ■ ■ wiiich
I'-'- im . n,,l :!,■■ .-..I.;-! .-.n.-iitt. Thissccnu e^^lnli. ■ ; ■■ •■ ii''0 of
M-l ,-111 lili^uiLj,.-, .h-.;ilLrriintthlailnr,lmL wbii-li in. ■. i... l.-u-i'. i.m-y ivllll
II that Ibey arc actually mnu jliitiured, bui i
.■ lo a limited c
lie gives many iulerosiig iiariieulai
" I'l-j nurKNUNoEsKi.Moa,— It IS rare nowadays tbnt n natlvu Amcri-
' I'i ' , I ' I'Tiiiil. DO members of whiini hnvo euuouctcred a wliiic man.
I ii .,1 ;!ii ;;i)od fortcinc of liiruteuant Holm, when in the siiiiimei- of
'' < .,.1.1. 'I liir* cBslcru coast of Oreenland in command of an expedition
■■' 'i fi.' n.irii.ii iiLvi-'iimeni. lie m ado bis headquaricra for Ibe mm
, > Ii m. I i]|.<l Agmagmiiik. wlioso inhnbltanu wvrc lolally un-
' ] .Mil : ' .1 iiN iiad in Fuel had never beard of the while race.
■'' ■ I ' :■ ■ II. ■ ■ .. ■ iiiiure which could be triced to a foreign source
< i< IV iiii;iii'tiii ::i- I I \::i\i wlilcb thcy hiid Obtained by barter with the
'ii"'1iiii1ilt i.j il.L' iiu-i, I'liey knuw notHing of nrmirma, tber weapons
■i Wpoons und Uiu'^ iiud arrows, Ibe shnfls jiointcd with slurpolied bnncs.
ill liic milre arts tbey were superior In tiiosc of llielr itiiloa who bid b5en
252 THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN.
in contact with European traders. Lieut. Holm brought back witli him nu-
merous specimens of these native products, and this winter this valuable collec-
tion has been on exhibition in Copenhagen.
AuTiFici.vL Defoi«mities op the Cranium is Americ.v. — An extraordi-
nary thesis has lately been maintained with a considerable display of learning
by Senor Juau Ignado de Armas, of Havana, in a brochure entitled Le^ Cranes
Jjifs D!fonn;'s. ile denies flatly that there is any "historic, scientific or ration-
al basi.s" for the of t repeated assertion tliatj the American Indians, *in any of
their tribes, resorted to artificial m?ans to flatten or otherwise alter the natural
shape of the he:ids of their infants. Tlie skulls which arc; brought forward in
numbers to prove the existence* of such a habit he aJ^erts are all natural forms,
peculiar to the tribes to whom they belonged, and however much they differ
from wliat we choose to call the normal type, they are not deformitie.'? but nor-
mal ;;ro\vilis. Of course, he has to meet and explain the numerous statements
of travelers to the contrary, b.it docs so without hesitation and with great
courage. Tljat he has proved his thesis to the satisfaction of the craniologists
cannot be said, but he has strength enough in some of his criticism? to warn
anatomists from ndinitting too hastily that all the cranial forms that err from
honest nature's rule are the results of artificial compression. It may be that we
have not been willing to allow sulllcient latitude to the power of of variriiion in
this respect.
Pal-KOLitiiic Pottery. — The distinction between the Palaeolithic and the
Neolithic Ages is a real one, and useful in studying the development of man.
It is indicated not merely by the dilTerence in tlie technical methods of work-
ing stoiiu, but by a series of of er characters of art-products. One of these has
been generally held to be the total absence of pottery in all paUeolithic deposits m
in both hemisplicres. There is not, however, entire unanimity on this point,
and lately, before the French Academy of Sciences, two able antiquaries,
MM. Mariel and He Lauiiay brous?hl forward the details of several linds to
show that a rude pottery was manufactured in the area of Belgium as far back
as the period of the Cave Bear, which, of course, was in full palaeolithic times.
The fragments were found in tlie cavern of Nabrigas, in immediate association
with the bones of Urttus Sjkbrua, and. it was alleged, in undisturbed strata.
This latter point, on which, of course, the validity of the whole argument rest-
ed, was vigorously contested, and remains undecided. In America there have
been no discoveries as yet of pottery which we have any reason to assign to
the Pala?olithic period.
Cri* Sii.vPED Stones. — Our readers will remember the admirable study
printed in the Smithsonian publications by Prof. Charles liau on **Cup-shaped
and other Lapidarian sculpture in America.' In the Janusry number of the
Jifcut i/* Anihnnk»htfju\ the subject is resumed by the Marquis cie Nadaillac. He
illustrates and compares the curious artificial cup-shapi-d depressions found in
rocks over a wide area of the world, in Scoilaud. Germany, and America, in
Algeria and in Fraoee. and asks whether it is admissable lo maintain that such
wculiar and laborious monuments could have bem the play of idle hands?
NVhether they must not. on the contrary, be accorded some uniform and fixed
significance? and. if this Im? the case, whether they do not constitute an ethno-
logical link of some kind between the peoples who at som<» remote em inhabit-
ed the regions so widely asunder as ihos<» 1 have noted? To these pregnant in-
quiries he refrains from olTering a positive reply, but the force of his presen-
tation musi impress every unbiased btuilent of tlie 'subject.
The Srr:n- of .M vsks— The lliird .Vnni il R »port of the B.ireau of Ethnolo-
gy contain^ an instructive article bv .Mr. Win H. Dull on the manufacture and
uses of misks In* the Am.'ricin Indians, o^pocially tho^ on Iho northwest
coast. A wider review of the same ethnolo^ric trait has been recentlv published
^ the eminent ethnologi>t. Dr. Richard' Androe. of Leipzig, entitled Die
Mn*ktn in th r Va'k. rk'twf . He describes their use bv various nations in reli-
gious ceremonies, in wur, as shields, for the faci*s of "the dead :n certain legal
processes, in dances on the scenic stage, and in acting of all kinds. Gcocrraphi-
NOTES FROM THE FAR EAST. 253
cally tbey arc shown to have been in extensive use in every quarter of the
globe, and it is safe to say that their employment springs from psychologic
traits common to man as a species, and everywhere recurring in a greater or
less degree. The instances he quotes from the American Aborigines are nu-
merous, and in motives akin to those from Asia and Africa.
AxrERic.\N Society in Berlin. — There is a growing interest in the studies
of American Ethnology, Archieology and Linguistics in Germany. What is
wanted in that country of scholars to turn many minds in this direction is
some center of associated studies, and Fome channel through which researches
could be promptly published. Roth Ihc^e desiderata are in a fair way of being
supplied. Recent letters from Berlin inform me that the project is well under
a way of creating a society for the promotion of American investigations and
the establishment of a journal, in which such could be published as its main
feature. When German speaking Europe embraces afnong its scholars such
distinguished Americanists as StoU, Streble, Schellbas, Forstemann, Bastian,
Mttller, Von Tschudi, Reiss, Stolpe, Steffen, Krause, and many others whose
names suggest themselves, the only wonder is that such a scheme has not
long since been carried out.
NOTES FROM THE FAR EAST.
BY rnOF. JOHN AVEUY.
Annaxiese Ancestral WoRsnir. — Mr. James G. Scott, who has given us
in his book« the best popular accounts of the people of Farther India, de-
scribes certain funeral customs of the Annamese. After the death of a person
is a.ssured, three sheets of paper and a cloth are placed over the face in or-
der to prevent his soul from bcm^ carried off by demons always lurking
around. Three grains of rice or, m case of the wealthy, precious stones are
put in the mouth, and all teeth that may have fallen out are carefully re-
stored to place. The body is washed in an infusion of flowers or fra«irant
leaves and dressed in its finest clothes. The nails are cut and placed in a
packet beside the head, which must always be placed in a position facing the
door. After the corpse has been put into the coffin, the relatives, clad in
mourning garments, make offerings to the ancestors and to the deceased,
and prostrate themselves four times before him. The body is often kept for
da3's or weeks in the house to give time for the friends to assemble from far
and near; and then is carried to the grave with much ceremou}', the greater
psiTt of which IS designed as a safeguard against evil spirits. Those most
dreaded are the Cohon, or spirits of persons who have died a violent death
and have not enjoyed the rites of sepulture. In order to outwit these mali-
cious beini^s pieces of sham gold and silver leaf are scattered in the way,
which excite their cupidity and delay them while the procession moves on.
Strips of piper, bearing the stamp of coins, are aUo burned or placed in the
prrave. as a further dwccir to the spirits to leave the occupant iu peace.
Families that can afford it erect stone monuments over the graves of their
dead, and worship before them on the first and fifteenth diys of each month.
The greate<«t pains are taken to propitiate the Co-hon, and sheets of paper
covered with designs of money, domestic utensils, robes, — in fact anything
that can supply the wants or tickle the fancy of these inconvenient visitants —
are offered at the grave and elsewhere Gifts of ric.», bananas, and so on, are
scattered on ihe roof of the cottage, and spirits of every name are invited to
come and eat. Farmers present offerings to the souls of the former owners
of the land in the first three months of the year. If things do not go right,
the crops fail, the animils die. or the proprietor himself falls sick, he sjuds and
has a paper house made in exact imitation of his premises with all thei'* oc-
cupants. Then the wizard is summoned, who goes into a trance and be-
comes possessed by the spirit of the former owner. In this condition he —
that is the spirit — consumes enormous quantities of raw fowl and wine, and is
- ^:a. STz
-i- ;a.:-
; '•--.-
.!• - . — .1
41-
■ "^i.
- 1 -v . -- -
- V ' ^ •* -^ ^^ *«««". •^^ ^
-.- v.""
•rc i 7"i:i :'''a:iit.Lj.fi :f
--■ - .. - "i" "* r"-i" ^•,-»* •*
i- ; -ill .- tCI.i.. LZ*~ ~'-~ *«i •
.^ • -Hi. : '_ii» KuAT
. fc."--. . .i"
T':*l '.. "--^ !■- ^ ""1" z'^rT^
- .* " "1". -iii Ti'l. ' rrr C '-Zr"
>. .".I*. • '" ~^"f^ ~_2 * "sir"!*
— "; V-: : ., - _. :
..- V
. ; • r .-- - -
» •
' >'"««*
. ^ k —
V . - - _.!.! J-
%. . ■
' \ -
1 i- - ..
^ _ •
LtTSnAHT AND A RCH-EO LOGICAL NOTES.
been fullj trailed Ijv otht-rj. Witliin tlip ILmilH D:iriicd. a
nuliilncuU given, of wliicli Itriof {frammiiiicnt slci-tclics a
t'li: raatli.a iiu Vanua l^va, ouo or tUe Bunks' Qrmip, an UlnaJ only 15-
~'"' ■'■ 'liere wore tormorly recosniwil 15 dlstlnel diiilepta. The au-
' 'i' Mciitnuslaa Unguftges, niticli Uiin liootc ia designed in some
.1. ii lliut they arc hoino;ronoous and bclons to acommaaaiocic
.^I'j nf tbe Mtday Arohipelago and or PoiyaesiD. sinndtiii; to
N^i in tliQ satuo relntioD as tliemulo bmnclies of tlie Icdo-Euro-
Pt'iiii r^iiiiiiv TIio AuBlralion tongue) arc not brought inia tlict Bnaw group..
(t will b« oliscrved tliiit ttiix tlieory Is opposed to llie one genomlly beld, nnme-
•y. (Iiat the Melaacsinii or Pnpuau liutguages [ire radically distinct from Malay
Mpecdi on the one side and Polyni'siaa spcecli on ilic otUvr; and iliui wliatever
fc - Mml ay or Polyoeaian eleiuenis are discoverable In tlie tongues of tlic central
' o aie ttiere by borrowing, in support of lila poaltloaMr. Codrineton ar-
ts the evidence un<lcr tlietbrec lieads. YocnbuUvy. Ctraminar. andPlionol-
Qe conipnros TO words in 40 Innguagos of Melaoesiu, and tlieae witli
lyan word^ coil«i:Ie(l by Mr. Wnllaco. Tiie author's nolCM on each of Uio
b compared are very instructive. Next foliows a brief comparative sruin-
^ Kbicb puts tlic matter in a nutshell : then a discussion of pbonetlcs^ and
Jljr. llie ftcpamlo grnmmars in oullinii. Of llic convenience of the work in
aring ioio fomw tliu linguistic feuiuna of u widu lleld one cannot say loo-
OD iu praiae.
k. fact vvbich hits prejudiced mnny Btudenis against a rclaiionship between
> Ualsyun. MelnDesinn. and Polvncsiiin speech is n supposed marked differ-
3« of race—especially as Indicalod by color, llio Mnlays Ijeins yellow, ih»
elueBidtiH black, and ilie Polyn.'sinns liiflit brown: but Mr. Cndringlon os-
*~^ lU ibnt Ibis fcaiuru lins been somnwbat over estimated, there being n
tt Variety of color in caoli of tliu iliree regions, dno to innnmeralilo inter-
''"js. Bnt, loncciiiint for what is BiHI nn undoubted fact. Ihc author
,_.ja tbnt the i&lands siretcliing from ilie A^alic continent eastward were
« Milled by n dtirk rolored. curly bnired race, that a white race carao In
~ii llie continent and inuk wives from ilia eatliur settlers. Tliu nlTzipnng of
Bnlon would hnvi' 1 1 i,'htvi' complexions than their mot bcrs. but woidd con-
ja tn speak tlieir lani^iiii^e. This mlxtnro of race, beginning nt rlic cimti-
ntiuul on ih« is'and coasia, would grjduiilly spread caiiwurd and Into the
crior: but lUo language would always remain, In apiie of dialuotli; variations,
oDtially that uf the primiiivoinbabitaniB, A branch of this popularlon. of
BrCain grade of color, might go far awiky wberc frequent comniunlcntioa
'■A tlie «arJy liomc would be impossible, and (here in tbcir isohiiion, main*
aiog Ihc same physical lypc, would di^vclope new dialects and n dlffereut
'S.Uialiou, At Iho same lime a darker liut iif skin would liere and there iR'-
'icir maternal ancvBtry. One difflculty ihat we have with this theory is
in superior — for it is fair lo (is-sumr Ihid—in.comiug people Is reprtWOOletT
Ivlng up iis langungo in favor of ihe inftriur race: but history iraclicsiis
"■^ revoTM bas usually tiet-n ilio ciiso. tvMi when Ihe higlLerraceisgn-ally
n Dunbers, As an itluilnition one thinks of Ihc Aryan invaders of
..tioM language swallowed nliost of bartNiroua Idioms, and whoso civ-
hbWianie the norm for the whole land, titill. one mnst not spak loo
*i«*tiy on Bucli n subject. The relations of races on Uie islands of the
•IJc pnwent some of ilm moat punnling (|uesliotis of ethnology, and we may
Kl lui content to defer fixed conchisinns. pending more thurongh study of
■ Held, of winch tlin present work is one of tUo most liopctui 6i;f[is.
IJTEIIAIIV AND AncU.KOLoaiCAI, NOTKS.
IIV ini! El;noB-tS CrllEK.
A-jtlMpoBTANT FiNR— A farmer tn Pikn County. Ill,, who has been ao-
"**y«<lby muunds. a* many furmiTs are. while plowing down one if ih'tn. r»-
^^"UT.ainjck some lliiug ihai injured Ihe point of his phuv, and resolroil lo
^56
THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN.
remove the obstacle. Comtnenciug to dig. he soon came to a large flat a
of limestone, which on be ing removed, revealed a vault in which lay the d
of a skeleton. lu this vault was an enormous stone axe weighing nearly
pounds, a large number of arrow and spear points, and a copper vessel capa
of holding nearly two quarts. Wrapped around the vessel was a mass of wo
fabric, of differing material. The vessel has a nicely fitted cover, and on
top of the cover is riveted »i bent piece of copper, in which is a stout cop
ring The vessel contained three curious stones, highly polished, one bl
like opal, one reddish like jiusper, and one dark of obsidian. The stones wi
nearly egg shape, being pointed at each end. Digging farther down he fon
at the base of the mound, another structure oC stono,*con^aining a skeleton a
the following implements: a stone pipe with a human face carved upon it;
copper a.\o weighing nearly a pound; a copper spear ne^irly a foot in len
and one inch broad; a copper breastplate; a strina: of 86 copper beads, an
curious copper ornament, resembling the singular bone found only in the m
coon, also an amulet of stone, representing some four-legged animal, also
number of stones, wrought for various purposes. The specimens, over fi
hundred in number, were sacured by Mr. William Mc Adams in Alton, Illino
and cover a lar^e table in his museum.
Pipes and Mounds. — We referred in our Jan. number, while making* a
view of the year, to certain relics which had been sent out from Davenpo;
by Rev. Mr. Gass. These relics proved to be fraudulent objects made from m
ble, gathered at second hand from a person known to Mr. Qass. and sent t:
him as genuine mound-builders relics. He says. *'The pipes are very rare a
only found in the Mississippi valley. Our Academy pays for such pipes fror
ten to fifteen dollars." These are new facts and speak more in reference to tfc:
genuineness or ungenuineness of the elephant pipes than any amount of arg
mentcan. Mr. Putnam intimates that there are eleph ant mounds at G "
Lake, Wisconsin, and near Red Wing. Minnesota, but he has made no
urements and secured no surveys. We should say that it would be a bette
argument, if such a survey could be secured and the report of it published b
the society in the name of some reliable county surveyor or civil engineer
It would cost less than to publish so much material, which at the l)cst amoun
to only individual opinion and brings out no new facts.
Anciknt Pottery of the Mississippi Vallev. — The article by Mr.
n. Holmes in the procecdiuns of the Davenport Aculemy of Science. (Vol —
IV. 1SS2-18S4) is worth reading, lie says "These articles in clay afford a
index of the grade of culture reachei by the pre-historic races." **As indi-
cated by decided family resemblance, the wares of this group extend ove
the states of Missouri. Arkan.sas. Tennessee, and cover largo portions of Mr
sissippi, Kentuckv and Illinois, and reach somewhat into Iowa, Indiana^
Louisiana, and Texas."
This is a broad field to embrace, and we are mclined to doubt whether th
culture of this region was so homogeneous*, as the writer mak?s ii. Th
earthworks of the region have been divided into four or five classes, and w
believe that there is a corrcjlation, between them aid the culture which pre-^
vailed. The art and architecture correspond; symbolism and ornamcntatio
are also correlated. If ^Ir. Holmes would take these points and carry th
analysis farther, so as to identify each style of ornamentation, with differ-
ent geographical districts, he would see that the grades of culture arc more
closely divided than he ha^ shown in this groupmg of the pottery, of all
the districts under one class.
Tn»: Blood Covenant.— Rev. II. Clay Trumbull, D. D. lia^ written
book b;ised he claims on a discovery in ethnology, about which the theolo- —
gians arc making consid(.Tal)le ado. He says: that this was the primi^
tive thought in the primitive religions, of all the world. "The indcpen— —
dent existenc:? of this right of bloo 1 brotherhood of blood jfriendship. amonj
the three gre it primitive divisions of the race, the Sjmitic.Hamitic. and th
Japhetic; and that, in Asia. Africa. Europe, and America, and the islands
the sea. blood giving wa< life giving. Life giving was love showio
Love showing was heart yearning alter union in love and in life, and:
^MfsMin^
^kHSi'/pamMmamtfAh ttenta:
r Wms " AgDin "The m-odo of Ini
i^rnen has Iwcn rtuo.Tjc! iinirticnl>li
II.' open iind inttrll'iwiiiLi vim-
. ^o lit
rnnRferencp of blood
ikc by Ibe way of llp«.
i.iin. "A covt'UQnt of
1 iins Iwcii rccotcniied
< iiLicetviiblc. AgDin,
'I iliL' ligbt of primiUvQ
iiiuR " Apnin, "In nil
il nftt^r a dlvioo. — Bu-
. .. _ is BuppoBi'd tg liuvc Uie
..M, lu' [.ill- lui in:,iii?ardinrcrmiilc3.''r
i.ir>. iiiu ivc ill mill it it can lie proven, Tbcro msy
:n kiud, ill iilatuHe (.''lunirict. bui il is not u pro-hia-
roto-liistuTic cuiilom. Tbc custom nhlch was vouimon in America
' .e ShL of ['nnliv<?8 DHil fnt llini, nod Ibe idea vi»» Uiat if llic flcaii
natnri^ or tpiiil of ibe Itidiviiual would l» seeiired. The heart
rliicb wiiE I'liicn tts ilijs ^aa Buppuscd lo conlaia tite real
_ _ . _ was a<> itucti lliing &a bruUtLTliuod, scak'd by tlie ooiu-
>f blood, not in Amerli'nihHi wcnan k'aru about. Would .Mr. Truni-
' it the communion n'liicb in ilio most tncred rltr m ihc C'brisiian
. Iiii'i'il iin the -;ivnp.' custom of tfiitiiii* ibo Itcsli of cnpiLvcs inkpo
.1- \liey un? Would he not be shocked at Mr. Pali. a
iii'ii ho taya, "That the practicu or titunibulixm
' :i diet of linman Hesh, but a rite or observance of n
I li.iraeter. not bo far rc-mi.vt«!from tbc Anihropomor.
ii> :>^<s, dHim(.il for tlie chief Cliriatian rile 'Uie real
Lu><l> uiid tiluml' of Ihc victim uicrillced. for llic weUnre of
We itucslinu vciy much wlietber a. Jew ever t bought of tlio
1 Inicrcommlngling, when hv oBetvd his sacrifices- The Jewish custom
" " • •- . .1 I .ribcd by Homer, in which IliC
■ ■ iiiiiiiiii, i.iir jiiin ru'viiied lo Ibp divinity, and the
. . \\iir-.liijn ]■ Ttyi' Abi-ahamic sncriliec is CMloinljr
I' ^Liiy III 1 1 kmiklijI. If the blood eovenaut is Ibo
li.-.i TIjit': i^ i;iiijt iinalogy in the ealing of ttio
. . LiiJiJ i-,i[i bu luund ill j'^y Uluod commingling.
i"HK li.tiiK i.v EiiiiT. — The lost number of the proceedings of tlio Society
Biblieal Ar(-lii»dopy(Apr. Q. 1880) con lain 3 an arliclo bv Mr. P. lo Page
~"iif. on 'The myth of Osiris Neferu." wliicb is eulculated to throw
lij:bl upon an iniercsling question in American iiiytlioiosv. lie mys,
leAliroukins were never tired of repcntiufi the siory of ■•Sllehabo." the
>t lutre. tlie impersonation of Liulii, u livro of ihe Dawn, and the higheal
~ of lb«M> tribes, Whyahould light or the sun be pei-soniflud by the hare!
■ oaite of totemtsin? .\nd, if so, why should lolemiam lake this form?
jfao BhowD that tile ancient Egyptians had myths very similar, and
~JatowIod|Eo enables ua lo see clearly into the origin of these mylha.
■ ttded divinity is seen in the temple Dendem. The same Hare-
u)MarB in the "Book of the Dead." "The city Unnul, was ih&
at ibe nftccnlh nome of Upper Egypt, that of the hero, ITn call
Orecks "HermopoUlcs," "The name Unnu, neferu, signilles "The
lid or Glorious Hare." "Unnu. ilio appeialive of a hare, signifies 'a
gtr,' 'a leaper." From this Ihe writer concludes ihnt the hare was the
4 of the rising nun, and was applied in Osiris or the lun. He soys,
now. I trust, clear enough why L'nnn should be an appropriate nppclla-
of the rising sun who springs forth in glory aoa triumph. " "In
!«■• Prowfthenn, 'The Hours were hounds, which chased Oio day like a
-^-' deer.' "
II tlial the hare in Egypt was originally a lotcin. the tribal sign
but Ihut It wns KulHcquenlly appropriated by the
Oelria, We have in tlds countjy the figure of the hare, as
I. proliably totem but Uie same figure subsequently becomes n
mn is first found in the effigy mounda but ia at last placed
itnred facade. In Uie earUi effigy he is a totem, in the slonn
It liH wIh a sun-B y in bol .
'm.K. t)sll, paeeA^i
Mendi
m, by Min)iiB At Nid
Serpekt WoiWHiP :x Aphica— Tlie Amliivcr lleviow for June 11
lainji an iulcrcstin}; aoticle on. ''Native Worship in ^uib Africa." Iij' ibeHU
Eioiiitrv IteT, J. Tyler, from wbich we (tiiolc rliH followiug: "Ii seofKn a''
ibc Diiiivvs of Bouth Africa are eouke tvoraiilpers. This Is iiot sln<;lly I
Aiaalinffii (iinccstral spirits) are Uie objects ot their worsliip. When Ihe 1
cenM.-s Id i^xist, the Vnu/ya (<oul or epirii) is stipposcd lo t>> tnko up iu ftl
in a Hiiike,nr to ns4Utne the form of this reptile. Snniit speak of serpculs l_.
repacntn Jvca of the spirits. The soul of a king or any dlstinguifJied persan ii^
repnvtenieil by Ibe Inminbu. n fierce and venomaiis serpent, siirpassed only Iff]
iliL' ry'hon in Bir.« atiil lennth. Coinmun people usiiimu ine form of tbo I/'m>^
lilmaii. iiti fnurciioua und quiet Rcrpeut. In aucli forms spmild of ncportcd rd- (
alivcs visit the living at IhAr krunls, or villnges; lu Ihein Npecialiy in droamSr' \
'Dnmms never lie' is a Zulu proverb, therefore Ibc muasnires brought by U._
Bpiriis are alvrnys credited. To kill nn /towyo. iinrolrnt spirii. or rather Ui'I
serpent ri^preconUtttve. is a crime to b^ atoned for immedimely lest eotne ^t«J
culutnily result. '■
BOOK REVIEWS.
£in UtrMaii^ag n/u^i Siebtiii'iiTgeit, vua Dr. Wm, L.lt;smt, WicD
08. ISCSe. CnrlUrueser.
A benutlfnl and interesting volume with 2) illnitrationg, well worthy of tl ,
totter preas. The chapter devoted to tbo l^t res \n$ p\ace of ihe suiiposcd rs<^
' raiilnaof theheropoet /".(ftyJlsof uspeciiil inlere-H from a. new liEbl IbroiTB.'^
ou the mysleriou^ fiUe of thit illuslriouj victim of tyraooy. II. F. Jr.
-Oiutleuuila. Jteuen uiui Sthilderunj/ea am lUit Ja/iren 1873-33, Vos OnO'l
Stoli., M. D.,8vo,, pp. S18. ilhivmied. Lsipzg. F. A. Crockbus. 1896.
Dr. Oitri Stoli is nlre idy favora'ily known to studeiiLi of Amurion Bubjeetv.-J
by hiasniiiU workon the Qthnojrnpliy <iE Guitem:ihi. {Z-tr tilAn93mphit itt'M
loriciil akutcliof hisflveyeiirs' r'^Jiilpncf niiri tnivi'Nin'lint r'nunlry. interspersed
Willi a very Inrga amount of irironn itpui nr nil liin'UiviLli ri'rcroncelo tbe fitale,
ilsphyBiciilKeograpby. aniiiiuiin'- i M-tmn-, n- m\i--. rio. Nnt only did lie
utiUxu the oxceptional fucilki'- .iV-jv I iiv !]i : I'p ■ i:i.;i i.f a pliisicimi to make
liimwlf aciiualQtad with Iht intinu'i- life; nf ili ■ jp^-niil,., imi liy guvt pitrtJcuiu
atlontiou li> the dialects of the uiiIivL's. llu i^ prub:ih1y tlio only person in
Eiiropa who lias acritic.ilknowleilgo of tlie C;ikclilqu8llan5u:igi.Mind it is "- '—
Iiopea thut tbe dictionary be has prepared of it will ere Inug bi: printed. _
His work i:ivc9 full and reliable ioformBtion of the cconomiL-jl rcsuurccs o£|
IbesMte, iisnuncnliuriil cip.iciiip^ and niiiiiTiil wc'klth. Two raip
pciidfil. nti:- ;;fiPL;i.i[i]iiiMl lln' o(li r iilimilo-ii' il. There arc also several SU>%S
tislicil iijpiiiiilicf iiIiiikil; Id lli^' ii>]nihi:iriii, ir.iRii: anl i Heterology of Um F
public, Jn ii:i''. ii 1-^ 111.' nil,.! i:,j:ii|il(pir di'- riiiiipii fif the foiinlry ioall ite kI
lions wliicli li;n yi.-l rii^iiLMred au.l sliijiiiil Ii- ijii tliBshelvoj ot all out impatiSW
tant UDriiries. D. G. B. |
Pive.-eMnji i(f thf Aia:rieaa Pi'iilaiyihiea'. Steiety April 18^3,
This quarterly report contains the following titles on cthuoiosv notes on'
tbe Mongiio— an oitinel dialect ot Nicaragua, by Dr. D. O. Brluloo. R» '
marks <-n Indian tribal names, by Dr. W. J. Iloffm.tn, and on the "Ilebcew
word ElShadi. by Prof. J P. Leslie."
FroiH Aetiiiia io Maehpetah. or thf Hhmei nndjaiiniei/ina •// AhntAjun, by Ihe
Ilev J\UEB Marshall Tuompsds, Philadelphia Presbyterian Board of Pnb-
lICHlloil.
The enalributors to the Oriental U-'pitrtmriut of llm Am:;rle*n Antiqiti.
are one after another becoming the nuthor^ of book;. Itev. Hr, rrulH
Tiurgti unil Rev, Mr. Thompson each havinj produced a bofik ilurlnic the e
f«w months. Prof. A. H- 8aycc, D. D,. and Rev. S. Merrill, D. O.were i
Uuowii before Ibey Iwgan to write tor the Journal. Wu have now. Hev. 0.
D, .Miller, and Prof. John Avery, who shoald by goad rights hfias out a vol-
NEW PUBLICATIONS. 1350
ume, each upoa his own specialty. This little voliimo Is vcrv intorPNtlng,
It is written in a popular st^le. is splendidly printed, nicely illiiMtr<ted and
will prove an attractive addition to the mass of Oriental and HihlliMil litera-
ture, which has been so rapidly increasing during the luHt few yiniv*. Our
librtricM arc likely to be filled up with books on the confirmiitloii of ricrlp-
tore. There is no lack of works which illiistrate oriental cuwtotiiN and
scenes. It is the most popular department of archieology, at the preM?nt.
Ekphnitt Pipe$ and Lmcrihed Tablets in the Museum of the Academy of Natural
Sciences. Davenport. Iowa, 18S0. By Ciiah. E- I*i:t.\am, yrtw. of the
Society.
This U) a republication of the pamphlet, which has been m cxtifMiilvMy cir-
calatcl. It c<mtains as adJitional miterial the correspondence and criticUmii
of sciemific journals upon the previous cd'tion of the {Mtinphlel.
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
Magazines. — Journal of Science. LetterH, and Art, a <jij.trt«rly f'mrnal tUi-
Toteti t(» the advancm?nt of Science. L'.tenture an-1 Art, iri/;lijdio;r M'jti/; tut d
the fine trt-*. VoL I, No. 4. jAauir%' to April, H^5. LvaJon, ^illurii li-^jvwi,
185 Fleei Street.
American Jnamal of Pliilozy. e-llie^l by Bi«»jl L. Gil Jcr-de'rye, pfo1'ttt^/r '4
Oreelk iu thu Jobos H >pki&s Uairert::/. H^lutn.fr>, U •x'rmr^r, I'^^V
BallctiQ of the BaSUlo Societr of SsLl^ir*] ScKn/;/^*, VoL V. So, I H ,fl;^>.
Biker, Jooe^ & Co., 1S5«.
Report of Proccedinzi of ib* X ;* mi* aa vi >c * vl A i * ''| :- »rU'. *vy . >■- v // K*, . ;
•^Iphia for the year 1^^ Pni^w: f'yf S<x->-r, 1*5^.
Proceedior^of ibeO-aidlis la^rt.-.v- :^/iV> Vo', lU So i 4, * '/'^^v
rnifersdf*. C-nRnicToKr. bT Tsaifvr: r>rt:i.i|i ^ K ^ M O 4u 7-.
n»u>. Co?p. Oait A Cv>. :*ftc;.
Tkelfarueaoc* lai lit EIj'.': >f N».--Vt». t v»>^ -•**': '/^'.''/•* '-u* /"-v/^t
I»J*oJ Ui<4orieiI ?»>2ie:T. Vj '*\:.:v- '^^:j=,-=.* J'-wy^rv. '/ 'a^ *<•.*•* > ,«>v
'wnberS. l^ftS, Pr.a^'^«rjt Pr.r vbi -.7 p5',*i^v-.->t Pr'*» *y,
w*r«i WAiLf^jri JL A* l4>ii:k:i '^>:rjfr^ K»?i*i ;* y-,-^* •-•»^ '/.n -n:*
Gtrdn.
*V lliT^rri P:r2lj: ^-iuTiU LIiI J^-r^.j*-!.:!.'- .'a. I- j<i.|:»y.,l#* >'.# ».'^
Pipfc^; TV Rmt, ir. *„ Lsivi -rr-Tti X- /,^r/. K 5 ^-u :, :, 5: -,..
^J*^^*attr* tJf 111* t.n: - .— ;
'V- . ; - ^ . - ■--
« 2»>*tHL ^ri :& ^f^r. r-- v . .^ * -.^ • -^-
iitTT^-
260 THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN.
Education, a Monthly Magazine devoted to the Science. Art, Philosophy,
and Literature of Education. Wm. A. Mowry, Boston, Editor.
Christian Archa?olo5ist and Church Historian, published weckl}'. 137
Strand, London, W. C,
Gospel Temperance, a new principle, by Rev. J, M. VanBuren. New York,
National Temperance Society and Publication House,
The Mormon Menace. A discourse before the New West Education Com-
mission on its fifth anniversary at Chicage, Nov. 15, 1885. by George Whit-
field Phillips, pastor of Plymouth Church. Worcester, Massachusetts, 1885.
Reminiscences of Early Congregationalism in Iowa, by Julius A. Reed,
Grmnell, Iowa, 1885.
Socialism and the Christian Church. A sermon preached on the fifty-ninth
anniversary of the American Home Missionary Society, at Saratoga Springs,
New York, June 2. 1885. by Rev. Edwin B. Webb, D. D. of Boston, Mass.
Quelqucs Notes Archeologiques. sur les Moeurs et les Institutions, de La Re-
fion Pyrenee ae. par La Revd. Went worth Webster, AoQt, 1884. Bayonne,
mprimcrie A. Lamaignere, Rue Chegaray, 1885 .
Revue D' Anthropologic. Dirig^e Par Paul Topinard^ G. Mason, Editeur.
Boulevard Saint Germain et rue de V Eperon.
Bulletin de la Soci^^ti' de G^'ographie. Paris, Boulevard Saint Germam,
1884.
Bulletins dc la Socii'to D' Anthropologic, Mai a JuUiet; Juillet a Dccembre;
Janvier a Mars ; 1884. Paris, G, Masson, Editeur.
La Stele De Palenquc du Musle National des Estats Unis a Washington.
Par Le Dr. Charles Rau, Lyon, Imprimerie, Pitrataine, 4, Rue Gentil, 4.—
1884.
THE
Jlmemat. ^ntiamvim.
Vol. VIII. Septemder, 1886. No. 5
THK TEXTILE ART IN PREHISTORIC ARCHAEOLOGY.
When the ancestors of the human race, far back in the
shadows of the past, stepped across the boundary that separates
the realm of instinct from the realm of reason, they were already
endowed with some of the machinery of civilization. They had,
in all probability, acquired the rudiments of language, and in
common with the birds and the beasts, possessed considerable
skill in certain branches of industry. Our arts of to-day were not
yet differentiated, but the ijerm was there, and from this sprang up
first of all, the two great arts, architecture and weaving, which
were at a later day destined to pursue such divergent ways. That
they did thus arise, is to be inferred from what is known of the
nature of man and his environment. His habits were doubtless
arboreal, and his dwellings were in the fore.sts that furnished his
food. Twigs, vines, leaves, and filaments intertwined in various
ways served to shelter him from the elements and from the
enemies that beset him.
In time nets, baskets, mats, and coverings for the body were
made, and as the ages passed by these developed into the cloths,
tapestries, laces, and rich goods of the cultured races of men;
these represent the textile art. House-building among such races
had, at an early period, gone its separate way.
It requires no argument to show that from the beginning the
textile art formed one of the most important human activities,
and the story of its development and of its peculiar influence
upon other arts merits the closest attention of science.
In our studies of the beginnings of art we can depend upon
written records to carry us back but a few thousand years along
the pathway of progress, and beyond this we encounter a deep
shadow into which archaeology seeks to throw a ray of light.
Much can be learned of the character of the earlier stages
of our highly-matured arts by a study of the work of the
262 THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN.
primitive tribes of to-day. We have thus within our easy
reach, illustrations of conditions, processes and results, which
along the ancestral lines of our riper civilizations would lie
farther back of the founding of the pyramids than that is back
of us. But such analogies are not entirely satisfactory. We
long for a closer acquaintance with the early forms of art
peculiar to those nations that have actually achieved a high grade
of culture, and thus we appeal to prehistoric archaeology.
The primary failure of tJie textile art as a historic, or rather a
prehistoric record, is the susceptibility of its products to decay.
Examples of very archaic work survive to us only by virtue of
exceptionally favorable conditions. The fabrics of the Incas,
buried in the dry saline sands of the rainless shores of Peru, are,
after the lapse of hundreds of years, found to be as fresh-looking
as when first wrapped about the bodies of the dead. After the
flight of thousands of years, the mummy-wrappings of the ancient
Egyptians arc equally well preserved, a result attributable to the
fact that they had been steeped in balsam and stored in well-built
tombs.
.Our mound fabrics are in many cases preserved through contact
with objects of copper, the salts of which have a tendency to
arrest decay, and also through charring, which leaves them, while
undisturbed, all but indestructible. The latter method of preser-
vation is finely illustrated by the well-preserved fabrics of the
Lake Dwellers of Switzerland, which having fallen into the water
when partially consumed were preserved by the deposition of
slime.
Again, the fabrics of the North American tribes are made
known to us in a way wholly distinct from the preceding. The
primitive potter employed woven textures in the manufacture
and ornamentation of his wares. In the process, the fabrics were
impressed upon the soft clay, and when the vessels were baked
the impressions became indelibly fixed. A number of restorations,
made by taking casts in clay of these impressions, are given in a
paper published in the third annual report of the Bureau of Eth-
nology. Evidence of the practice of the art by many ancient
nations is also preserved to us by such implements of weaving as
happen to be of enduring materials. Spindle whorls in clay and
stone are perhaps the most common of these relics. On the site
of ancient Troy, Schliemann obtained 22,000 specimens and some
of our American sites are hardly less prolific. These objects tell
us definitely of the practice of the art, but give little insight into
the character of the products, for woven fabrics, as to qualit>',
depend but little upon the character of the machinery employed.
It happens, however, that these and kindred means arc not the
only ones. throuj;h which a knowledge of prehistoric fabrics can
be gained. The textile art is abundantly reflected in a number
of associated arts whose products were embodied in more enduring
TEXTILE ART IN PREHISTORIC ARCir.BOLOQY. MS
materials. The influence of this art upon other arts has been
exerted chiefly in two directions, first by giving form to their va-
rious products, and, second, by furnishing them with decorations.
In the matter of form this influence is somewhat limited, as
textile construction doss not usually give rise to those rigid
shapes that tend to impose themselves upon materials themselves
rigid. Basketry is the most notable exception.
It is true that the primitive builder employed textile combina-
tions in constructing his dwellings, and that many features
of these are impressed upon architectural decoration and through
it upon the decoration of other arts, but basketry occupies a
wholly distinct field; it is almost universally practiced by primitive
peoples, and its products are so intimately associated with the
various other arts employed in domestic work that its influence
is exceptionally strong. In the earlier periods one of its more
nearly related associates was the ceramic art, which seems to have
been, as it were, a younger si.ster whose youth and pla.stic nature
made it easy to give .shape to her features. _ There is not a group
of pottery within my knowledge that doe.s not furni.sh examples
demonstrating the correctness of this observation.
Ancient pueblo peoples were masters in the basket-making art,
as arc also most of the living races of the Pacific slope, and their
pDttcrv ui min\ « i\ s showb traces of the textile influence. One
example will serve to exemplify
this Fjg I represents a pueblo
basket of modern make, but in all
probibility of archaic type.- It is
drawn one third the actual size,
I si.r\cs to illustrate the form
iirfaci. characters ofonc class
VLSbcls. Fig. 3 represents
I iLUt pueblo cup in gray carth-
1 ire which in form, in surface
(.hLiiicters and to some extent in
L jii-jtruction, imitates a woven vcs-
bi-l of the variety shown in Fig. i.
Did Hc not have these modern
tftaskct' to illu t'l itc the textilt. art of this people, there are hun-
dreds ofpiccL of lucii-nt potter> that would serve to make clear
to Us the character of that art at the period when the older
pueblos and eliff dwellings now in ruins were teeming with
life. The same 15 true to a less marked degree of the arts of
other American races, and it is not unusual to find articles of
wood, stone, and metal, whose forms give hints of textile domi-
nation.
It is-in ornament, however, that the influence of the textHe art is
most deeply and widely felt, and no singlcart, ancient or modern,
in which men liave endeavored to embody elements of beautj-, is
TOB AMBBIGAH AKTIQT7A.RIAK.
without strongly marked traces of its presence. Ily a stud
of archaic ornament, therefore, the archaeologist may hope lo
something to the sum of Ills knowledge of textiles.
Aichitecture, by the nature of its construction from gcomel
units, also nccessai
gives rise to gw
rical forms in
respects rcsemblljl
those produced m E
rics, but this need p
lead to confusion
the histor>-of the 3
will easily demoitstra
hat before archilw
urc, as embodied i
hewn wood, dress)
vStoncH and bricks, fi
arrived at a stage c
able of influeaciji
decoration, the tcxl
art had occupied tfl
field, and its pccuin
conventionalities were disseminated tiiroufjhout the whole ra
of the embellishing arts; ajchitecture itsstf, when it reached
proper stage, did not escape its influence. Examples may
given to enforce thes'> statements, and in doing this we need
go beyond our own country.
Perhaps no American nation l.ad in pre-Columbian limes reach)
agradeof skill equal lo that of Pen
fabrics of a very high class ar
exceptionally well preserved
but, aside from this, her art i
other materials bears evidenc
of the perfection of her textil
products. The convenliona
decorations upon wood, claj
stone, and metal, arc often c
textile extraction. The lorm
of men, monkeys, birds, and
fish, recurring again and agaii
in all branches of art, show dc
cidcd trace,") of the peculiar an
gularit)' imposed by previous
treatment in the loom.
Architecture could also be made to contribute to our fund
of information, as we shall see from an example taken frf>m thj
" H11II of Arabesques" at Chimu and shown in Fig. 4. ~"
vliiirming design is worked out in .stucco, and exhibits ctuirad
TEXTILE AHT IN PHEHISTORIC ARCH.EOLOGT. 986
that could not have arisen in either stucco or stone, but which
repeat almost literally the peculiar devices of the native textiles.
Throughout Central America and Mexico, where no fabrics are
preserved to tell their own storj-, architecture exhibits conventions
iiA^tHy less textile in their appearance. Fine examples are found
in the marvelous ruins of Uxmal and Mitla.
The pucbio art of New Mexico and Arizona is perhaps better
suited than any other to illustrate these thoughts, as it belongs
~^" the near past and almost equally to the present, and all the
led elements are available for reference. The native textile
1, without doubt, declined greatly since the advent of the
Ulish people, for we find painted upon the ancient pottery of
b region designs of great beauty and complexity much superior
ianything produced at the present day. The very pleasing
mga given in Fig. 5 is copied from a large vase made by some
268 THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN.
of the older cliff-house peoples. In it we discern all the textile
angularity, a certain continuity in the lines, and a consistency in
the arrangement of the parts that arises through no other than
textile channels. Another example, taken from the upper surface
of an ancient vase, is presented in Fig. 3. It, also, is better in
design than anything found in modern pueblo work. It was
probably copied by the potter from the inner surface of a basket
plaque, a form of vessel in use by all the pueblo Iribes. The
painted figure departs from the geometrical symmetry of the origi-
nal textile work in some of its details. This is due to the lack of
precision characteristic of free-hand delineation whpre the hand
and the eye are not thoroughly trained.
From the examples presented it will be seen that had all traces
of American prehistoric textile fabrics been lost, a fair idea of the
condition of the art could be obtained by the archaeologist from
otherbranches of the art.
W. H. Holmes.
THE TIBETO-BURMAN GROUP OF LANGUAGES.
FIRST PAPER,
Extending along the northern and north-eastern border of
Hindustan and stretching across Farther India into the western-
most province of China, is a group of languages which has
been called by recent writers Tibcto-Burman. The name is
derived from the two most important and, in geo^rraphical situa-
tion, most widely separated members of the group.
Some linguistic .students are inclined to classify these lan-
guages with the Chinese and other monosyllabic tongues of
south-eastern Asia, from which, however, they differ in impor-
tant respects; while others regard them, as belonging more
properly in the Turanian or Scythian family. In fact, they lie
geographically and linguistically between these two great types
of speech; and form, so to speak, the step by which we ascend
from the lower to the higher stage of development.
Roughly speaking, this linguistic domain extends irregularly
from north-west to south-east between the 72dand I02d degrees
of east longitude and between the loth and 35th parallels of
north latitude. It is the design of this paper to nam;; and locate
the members composing this widely-extended group, and to
point out the most prominent features of their structure, which
THE TIBETO-BURMAN GROUP OF LANGUAGES. 267
have led to their being set apart from surrounding languages.
Any detailed survey of so broad a field is manifestly out of the
question within the limits of these pages.
It should be understood at the outset that we are not here dealing
with peoples who, like the Indo-Europeans, belong to the most
civilized portion of the race, whose languages can be traced by
literary monuments through many centuries of growth and de-
cay ; but that we have, for the most part, to do with rude and
warring tribes, whose speech possesses neither literature nor so
much as written characters, while the two or three peoples that
have reached a higher level are still but half civilized. The
interest, then, in the study of the Tibeto-Burman languages
lies not in the intellectual or political prominence of their speak-
ers, but in their geographical position and the evidence which
they can furnish regarding the development of human speech in
general ; for it must have occured to the thought of every prac-
ticed student of language that in order to trace the growth of
signification and form it is not enough to confine one's researches
to the highest types of speech, in which the old and the new,
the simple and the complex, are mingled in unconscious confus-
ion ; but that we must study attentively the lower idioms where,
so to speak, one may see men actually engaged in laying the
foundation stones of the temple of speech.
Now, if we glance at the map of eastern Asia, we shall see
that the region which we have outlined is bounded on the east
by the Chinese, the Siamese and other languages of the Mon
^nd Tai groups; on the north by the Mongolian and Tartaric
languages of Central Asia, characterized by agglutinative struct-
ure ; and on the south and west by Aryan languages of inflec-
tive type : so that, if it be true, as we hope to show in the sequel,
that the groups under review exhibit points of agreement with
both the monosyllabic and the agglutinative languages, they will
provide an important link in the evidence that the most complex
structure was primarily derived from the simplest forms.
In making our survey, two courses are open to us; either we
^^y treat the languages in sub-groups according to mutual
agreements in grammar or vocabulary; or we may take them up
in geographical order, noting special affinities as they come
under our eye. The latter course will be most feasible, since
pur knowledge of different sections of the field is most unequal;
in some we have excellent grammars and dictionaries, in others
ye have only brief vocabularies, so that any minute classification
isofdoubtfu! value. We besfin, then, with the Tibetan, which,
»^ond the snowy range, forms the whole northern border of the
Poup, not only being spoken in Tibet proper, the valley of the
Sanpu, but encroaching upon Chinese territory in the east, and
overlapping Cashmere and the Panjab in the west. The lan-
pJage has, in turn, been greatly influenced, even within the
268 THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN.
political limits of Tibet, by its neighbors, the Chinese on one
side, the Indian vernaculars on another, and the Mongolian and
Tartaric languages on the third. Owing to the broken nature
of the country, Tibetan is spoken in various dialects, of which
1 5 to 20 are named by recent writers. Diversity of speech is
most marked where intercourse between villages is barred for
most of the year by snow-clad mountains. This is well illus-
trated by the little district of Kunawar, on the Panjab frontier,
where in a region only 70 miles long by 40 broad, and having a
population not exceeding 10,000, only a part of whom are
Tibetans, six sub-dialects of Tibetan are said to be spoken. This
multitude of dialects may be divided into three groups — eastern,
spoken in the province of Kliams; central, in the region ofSpiti,
Tsang, and U ; western, heard in Ladak and Lahoul. These
differ considerably in spelling, but more in pronunciation ; and
each retains some feature of primitive usage which has been lost
by the others. The speech of central Tibet, in and about the
capital city, Lhassa, is regarded as the standard, but has departed
farthest from the ancient type.
The literary cultivation of Tibetan began in the first half of the
7th century A. D., when King Srongtsangampo sent a commis-
sion to India to learn the Sanskrit language, and to acquaint
themselves with the Buddhist literature which it recorded.
By these men the alphabetic characters now current in Tibet
were adapted from Indian letters, and the work of translating
into their native tongue the teaching of Gautama and his follow-
ers was begun. Since that time an extensive body of literature,
though mostly of religious contents and stereotyped form, has
been produced.
It is stoutly maintained by some writers that Tibetan is a
monosyllabic or isolating tongue, like the Chinese; while others
as confidently insist that its structure is agglutinative. The
question turns upon definitions. What do we mean by a mono-
syllabic language, and what by an agglutinative one ? If we
understand by the former, one whose roots, and a great part of
whose words, are monosyllables, but which habitually adds to
these roots determinative and relational syllables, which do not
occur in the language as independent words, the Tibetan must
be placed in that class ; otherwise we must credit it with that rude
form of inflection which we call agglutination.
The Tibetan alphabet, which, like the Sanskrit, is syllabic, has
30 characters, not including the sub-joined vowel-signs. It
represents some sounds not found in devanagari, and, unlike
that, has neither the cerebral row of consonants nor the sonant
aspirates. A striking peculiarity of Tibetan words is the fre-
quent occurrence of silent letters, witnesses of a pronunciation
long since given up, except here and there in the dialects.
Useful though these letters be as historic finger-posts, point-
THE TIBETO-BURMAN GROUP OF LAJJCGL AGES. 269
ing out the way the language has traveled, they are as much an
impertinence in modern Tibetan as are similar letters in English
— unless, as sometimes occurs, they serve the purpose of in-
flection. Plurality is denoted by affixing to the root-word one
of several syllables which were originally nouns of multitude,
and are now for the most part used independently as such.
The various relations of substantives in the sentence are in-
dicated by added syllables, which, it is easy to see in most cases,
have been degraded from independent words into servile parti-
cles or affixes.
Adjectives either follow their substantives, in which case they
and not their substantives are declined, or they precede them in
the genitive case. The language has no possessive or relative
pronoun, the genitive of the personal pronoun serving for the
former and a participial construction or an independent clause
supplying the place of the latter.
The Tibetan verb has a very meagre apparatus of conjugation.
It is unable to express either person, number, or voice. It is
always used in an impersonal sense, and what we call the subject
stands in an oblique case. Thus, while we say *'I am struck,"
or **I strike the boy," a Tibetan says "A striking is to me," or *'a
striking is to the boy by me." A case of genuine inflection,
however, occurs when the principal relations of time — present,
j>ast, and future — are to be denoted. This is done in part by
-change of root- words, as pres.^/«7;/^, fut. gtang\ in part by change
of prefixed letters, as perf. bcug^ fut. gcug \ and in part by the ad-
dition of a final s, as perf. btsags, fut. btsag. The consonants of the
root also are frequently changed in the several tenses; so aspir-
ates often become sijrds in the perfect and future.
The most striking peculiarity of the Tibetan verb is the
great use made of participial and gerundial forms. These verbal
adjectives and substantives take on a variety of suffixes, and
are constantly employed in situations where we in English prefer
subordinate, or even co-ordinate, clauses. Accordingly conjunc-
tions are few, and the word corresponding most nearly to our
^and' means properly * with ' — " he with me" instead of "he and I."
Postpositions take the place of prepositions. In the arrangement
of the sentence the principal verb always stands at the end, pre-
ceded by any gerunds or supines occurring — each at the end of its
section of the sentence. Adverbs or adverbial phrases prefer the
beginnins^ of the sentence. A limiting substantive stands before
the one limited. An adjective, numeral, or pro.noun follows, though
the first sometimes precedes in the genitive case. It is said that
lones are used in the Tibetan, as in the monosyllabic tongues, to
eke out its scanty inflections ; but they do not seem to form an
important feature of the language.
Crossing the snowy range and descending its southern slope,
ive come upon numerous small tribes, whose physical appearance
270
THE AMERICAN ASTIQUARtAN.
and speech betray their relationship to the people just na;
as well as to tribes yet to be mentioned,
, Tliey are not found so far west as the Tibetans, having been
pressed eastward and northward, or, if it is more correct to say
it, having been checked in their westward movement by the more
vigorous Aryan race.
They stretch from the Kali river, long. 80^, eastward beyond
British Indiainto Burma. Someoccupy tliehigherriver-valleys,
others find a congenial home in the fever-breeding swamps at
the base of the mountains. The nature of the country lavors
tribal division and the consequent growth of dialects.
Almost the only trustworthy Information we have concerning
that section of the tribes which center in and about the kingdot"'
of Nepal was gathered many years ago by Mr. Brian H, Hodgsoi
the eminent Resident at the Nepalcse court.
Without attempting an exhaustive catalogue of these tribes,
many of which are little more than names to us even now, the
followmg are the best known, in their order from west to east as
far as the border of Assam. In the higher, temperate region
are found the Sunwar, Gurung, Magar, Murmi, Newar, Kirand
Limbu, Lepcha, and Bhutanese; lower down are the Brarahi
Kusunda, Chepang, and Vayu.
Mr. Hodg.son has furnished us vocabularies of nearly all these
tribes, and grammatical sketches of two, the Kiranti and Vayu.
It is interesting in its ethnical bearing to note here that there are
many points of resemblance between the vocables of the Nepalese
tribes just named and those of the wild tribes of Arracan, though
any intercourse within historic times is out of the question. Only
three of these languages, the Newari, the Limbu, and the Lepcha,
possess written characters, and of thene they make little use. The
origin of their writing is probably to be traced back to lndia>
though how and when they derived it thence is not known. The
Kirantis, who to the number of a quarter of a million live la
eastern Nepal, speak a language which has a peculiar interest for
both the linguist and the ethnologist. It has 14 dialects, which
are said to be mutually unintelligible, and are therefore almost
entitled to rank as separate languages. We have already
that the Tibetan has, and shall hereafter note that other mei
of this family have, a very simple type of word-structure,
reason of which they stand near the level of the isolating langua-'
gcs; but in Kiranti and Vayu we come upon a decidedly
complicated system of forms. The personal pronouns have a
dual as well as a singular and plural, and the first person ha.s an
exclusive and an inclusive form in the dual and plural. They
each have also a twofold form — one used independently and the
other as a suffix. The verb has quite a remarkable development ;
for though it is extremely poor in tense and mode-forms, it has
a profusion of those expressive of the relations of agent to object;
ling ^^
loujH
,.^
les. ^^
the
t as
rion '
uituH
seea^l
i
THE TIBETO-BTTIlMAIf OROtH* OF LAZtGUAOES
as when wc say "I strike him." "we (including you) strike him,"
"ive (excluding you) strike him." "we two strike them two."
J etc., etc. Counting all possible relations which the three
f'persons in the three numbers can assume as subject and
Wobjcct, we find that they amount to more than eighty, each
pne of which may be expressed by its special verb form —
nd this, in the present indicative alone. Another set of
brms makes the inflection of the preterite. Furthermore, this
corporation of subject and object in the verb is extended to
participles, each one taking a new form according to the person
•"»n<i number of the subject and object of the principal verb.
Eacli present or past participle has also a double set of forms,
cletcnnined by the tense of the verb; thus I must choose my
rornn according as I say "speaking he comes," or "speaking he
came." "having spoken he comes," or "having spoken he came."
It is Lvident then, that the possible forms of the Kiranti verb
mount into the hundreds, and this, in spite of the fact that it has
but two modes, the indicative and imperative, and but two tenses,
the present and preterite. The Vayu language, spoken near by,
so closely resembles the Kiranti that we need not specially
describe it.
To suddenly come upon a tongue so rich and intricate in a
LPart of its structure, as is the Kiranti, nestled among languages
|s conspicuous for their poverty, and spoken by a people no
^ghcr in the social scale than their neighbors, is a genuine
Urprise. Our thoughts turn at once to Central India, where
Eglutination is the prevailing type of word-structure; and wc
nquirc whether it be possible that the Kirantis and their kindred
Once dwelt in the Ganges valley along with the Kols and Santals,
"^ut were rudely parted from them by the advancing wedge
•^f Aryan migration, and forced to seek refuge in the hills. We
sitould like to know, too, whether the adjoining languages ever
"^ti a complex verb-system like the Kiranti, and lost it; or whether
«eir development never proceeded so far. To these interesting
Questions our present knowledge does not justify a confident
ply; for they refer to remote conditions of Indian population,
^ _ which we have only occasional and disappointingly brief
plimpscs. A profounder study of tlie surviving aboriginal lan-
^•ages in and about India must precede any hopeful attempt
■ to definitely fix ethnical relationships and tribal migrations. Still,
I "* regard to the Kirantis, the united testimony of tradition and
I present circumstances gives plausibility to the conjecture that
**Jcy have seen better days, and that the comparative fullness of
'I'cir stock of word-forms was not developed by the monotonous
'•fc of narrow and wooded Himalayan valleys, but in a wider and
™orc suggestive sphere of tribal activity.
John Averv.
Itfunswick. Me., July 4, 1885.
272
THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN.
ANCIENT ENCLOSURES IN THE MIAMI VALLEY.
Although the Miami Valley does not rival that of the Sciota,
either in the number or magnitude of its ancient enclosures, they
nevertheless are sufficiently numerous to demonstrate the exist-
ence of a former dense population. Many of these works have
been described, and some of them repeatedly ; but there are a
few that still remain in comparative obscurity.
It is the object of this communication to direct attention to
these neglected works by presenting a brief description of them.
./
usBi^ iny^iMg^jif
Fig, 1. — Enclosure near Alcxandcrsvillc, O.
From various causes these interesting monuments of a lost race
are rapidly disappearing. Hence we should act promptly in
snatching from oblivion the comparatively few that remain. The
causes referred to are (i.j The leveling influence of long and
persistent culture. (2.) The erosive power of water, and (3.) In-
excusable cupidity.*
I will commence these descriptions with a rare form of enclosure
which is situated four miles southwest from Dayton, and two
miles north from Alexandersville. The old river road traverses
the work in a north and south direction.
The form is an irregular hollow square, the end walls of which
terminate on the bank of the old terrace on which the work is
located. The divergence of its walls from the cardinal p oint, and
^The interesting group at Alexandersville has been largely utilized in the manufacture of bride,
■and with as little compunction as though it had been an ordinary Loess bluflf. Even now^ as I writ*.
active operations are progressing in its destruction. The time is not far distant when this gjttmd tt^
monument will live only on papsr» and in the memory of a few. «
i
I
I <M
k ""
I
ANCIKNT ENCI-OStTtER IN THE MIAMI VALLEY, 9T«
the irregularity of that divergence, may be presented as one of
tt:< distinguishing features. And this is the more remarkable in
view of the symmetry which as a rule, characterises these quad-
rangular enclosures. (See Fig. i.)
Between this terrace bank and the river there is a recent terrace
about one hundred and fifty yards in width, part of which is
subject to inundation in exceptional floods.
Nearly midway on the line of wall on the south side there is
an obtuse angle formed by a divergence from a due east, to a
south-east direction, resulting in a prolongation of the south-
«iastern angle to an unseemly length, the object of which is not
^ipparen t.
On the inside of this obtuse angle, and connected with it, there
i s a mound ten feet in diameter, and of an equal height with the
■^vall. namely, two and a half feet. I explored this mound, but
found nothing on which to base a conjecture as to its probable
«jse. It is too small to serve as the substructure of a dwelling,
find it is clearly no burial mound. I content myself for the
present, by assigning it a position in that convenient class which
*:akes in these non-descripts, namely, "mounds of observation."
I have stated that the end walls terminate on the bank of the
■«jld terrace. Mr. Lesher, the proprietor, informs me that this
<ild river bank never supported a wall between these terminal
lints. From this circumstance, a very remote antiquitj' has
leen claimed for this class of works, as it is assumed that at the
X>eriod of its occupancy the river extended to the bank on which
the end walls terminate. And to this hypothesis is attributed
the absence of monuments on these low terraces.
With reference to the former assumption it may be stated that
a line of pickets may have filled the apparent gap. And the
latter can be disposed of by referring it to the same cause which
prevents their permanent occupancy to-day. The common sense of
this ancient people prompted them to avoid a locality of such
uncertain tenure.
This enclosure is "bounded and described" as follows: Begin-
ning at the south-west corner, on the old terrace bank, the wall
bears due east two hundred and twenty-five feet. Thence south
72° east, two hundred feet. Thence north 5° west, seven hundred
sind forty feet Thence north 85° west, tc the old terrace bank.
Much of the eastern wall has been reduced to a common level,
and can be traced only by the difference in color. Fortunately, a
IHrt of the south end of the enclosure is covered with timber, and
a large portion of the north wall is partially preserved by a"worm
fence" which formerly occupied it. I was thus enabled to secure
accurate bearings and distances.
There is no aperture in the perfect wall, and the former ex-
igence of such a convenience in any other part of the circumval-
Ution must necessarily remain a conjecture.
274 THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN.
One-half mile, south from the hollow square on the old Lesher
homestead, there was formerly a circular wall enclosing about
five acres. But this is so hopelessly obliterated that Mr. Lesher
could only indicate its outline from memory. Its position was
near the margin of the terrace.
The number of stone implements that have been, found in the
vicinity of this ancient enclosure would seem to establish its
claims to a village site.
Bolander-Resher Enclosure. — Nearly opposite the hol-
low square, on the west side of the river, we find the Bolander-
Resher enclosure. This work is situated on an elevated plateau,
commanding an extensive range of vision, embracing the north
end of the valley, which at this point is about two miles wide.
The view is arrested on the north and east by the hills which
form the rim of the basin; and at the south by intervfining
timber.
This enclosure is located partly on level land and partly on a
gentle incline towards the south and east, merging in the percipi-
tous hills which formed the western boundary of the magnificent
valley referred to. Between the base of these hills and the river
there is a narrow belt of recent terrace traversed by the Cincin-
nati, Hamilton and Dayton Railway.
This work is distinguished by the regularity of its outline and
the peculiarity of its position, which is exactly intermediate be-
tween the cardinal points. The form is a parallelogram, the
sides of which are seven hundred and twenty feet, and the ends
five hundred and forty feet.
About one-half of this enclosure is covered with timber. Here,
where the work is undisturbed, there is a singular discrepancy
in the size of the walls. Thus, while the north-west wall is three
feet high and fifteen feet broad, that on the north-east side is not
more than fifteen inches in height with a correspondingly narrow
base. It is, however, largely composed of grey heads and flat
limestones, which probably were utilized as supports for a line
of pickets. This conjecture is strengthened by the fact that in many
places on the line of wall the margins of these flat stones are seen
protruding from the bank and in some instances I noticed a num-
ber braced against each other.
At one point on this low wall there is an enlargement with-
out any perceptible increase in height. But its interior presented
no distinguishing features.
In both of these undisturbed walls a narrow gap occurs about
midvvay between the corners. It is presumable, that the other
sides were furnished with similar means of ingress and egress.
But as the south half of the enclosure has been many years under
•cultivation, no visible depi-ession marks. the spot. The onJv
ANCIENT ENCLOSURES IN THE MIAMI VALLEY. 275
perfect corner, (the north) is distinguished by an abrupt but graceful
cu r^e, which I infer was characteristic of the others.
CDn the south-east side there are two clay mounds which
Mr. Bolander informs me, were six feet high and forty feet
in diameter in their perfect state. These mounds are in close
pro3cimity and were enclosed by a circular wall. But the appear-
an<^€ now presented is that of a shallow basin one hundred feet
in diameter, with a slightly raised margin. The mound in the
center, though greatly reduced, is still a prominent feature. As-
sis'ted by Mr. Lesher, I explored these mounds. Although irrele-
van't to the subject under discussion, I will present a brief
desoription of them.
The interior of the first one investigated, which forms a part
of tlie circumvallation, presented all the features that are usually
claimed as arguments in support of human sacrifice; as (i,) an
altar made of Springfield clay of the cream-colored variety, on
which reposed a thin seam of bone-dust, ashes and charcoal.
(2.) On this were found alternate strata of burned clay covers,
ashes, calcined bones and charcoal, to a depth of one foot, and
extending over an area ten feet in diameter. The entire mass
indicated was burned to a brick red. In this burned pile we found
a cof^r bracelet much injured by heat. Was it customary to
bedeck the bodies of victims with the trappings of vanity?
The adjoining mound was not stratified, and the evidences of
heat were almost wholly absent. But the interior was sufficiently
marvelous to merit more than a passing notice. For, on the
outside of the altar, and contiguous to it, we found a mass of
unctuous .clay of a dark brown color, that presented the appear-
ance of having been saturated with blood. This anomalous
substuuice is of frequent occurrence in burned mounds, but as the
€vici^nces of fire are practically absent in this example, it cannot
*^ crl Slimed as an adjunct to human sacrifice unless wc assume
that the victims were slain on one altar and consumed on the
othei-. But it should be stated as a palliative, that these proofs
^' bu rnings are invariably concealed by a covv^r of clay several
*^et "tliick. No human remains were found in this connection.
S. H. BiNKLEV.
Al^xandersville, O.
276 THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN
THE APACHE-YUMAS AND APACHE-MOJAVES.
The Apache-Yumas, Tulkepaias, or Natchous, belong to the
Yuma, or Katchan family of Indians. The name Apache-Yu-
ma was giv^en to them by the whites, but they are known to
the Indians of the Yuma family as Tulkepaia, or in full, Tulke-
paia (sparrow?) venuna (belly) tchehwale (spotted), and to those
of the Tennai family — the so-called Apaches — as Natchou (liz-
ards).* They have quite recently sprung from the Yumas, or
Katchans, the Apache-Mojaves, or Yavapais, and Mojaves, or
Mokhabas.f
Their country- is in Arizona, north of the Gila river, between
the Verde and the Colorado. They were hostile to the whites
until 1873, in the spring of which year they were collected to
the number of about five hundred and taken to the Rio-Verde
reservation, which embraced a tract of country beginning near
Fort Verde and extending forty miles up the river, and ten
miles on each side of it. They had been fed by the govern-
ment at Camp Date-Creek, Ariz., for several years before their
removal to the Verde, but marauding parties frequently stole
away, to plunder and kill settlers and travelers, and it was only
after they had been severely punished by the troops many times
that they ceased their depredations.)
The Apache-Mojaves, Yavapaias, or Kohenins, also belong
to the Yuma family.^ The whites call them Apache-Mojaves.
but the Indian related to them call them Yavape, Yavapaia, or
Nyavapai, and the Tennai call them Kohenin. They claim as
their country the whole of the valley, of the Verde river and the
Black Mesa, as far north as Bill William's mountain. Of their
origin or migrations they are unable to give any account, as
traditions are almost unknown among them, as well as among
the Apache-Yumas,owing probably to their great reluctance to
speak of the dead. They were comparatively recent comers
into the Verde valley, for according to the traditions of the
Moquis the ancestors of the latter inhabited it for a long time^
and were the builders of the stone structures, the ruins of whict^*
are to be seen on the edges of the mesas and in the cHfts al '^-
along the river. The Moquis deserted the valley "five old me^m
ago" — the words of an old Moqui man from the pueblo
*The name Apache is the plural form of pa or apa, a Katchan word, _ and ngnifies *'the mi
i. €, Indians. It is commonly applied to the Indians of the Tannai Guniljr, but should be used
designate the Katchan family.
tThe name Mahaba, of which Mojave is a corruption, means "three mountains," It is denr
from the words hamok (three) and hdbi hcmi (big rock or mountain.)
tThe following named tribes are also members of this family: Diegueno. Cocapa, Vu«M,
Hualpai, Maricopa, Yuva-Supai. and Apache Tonto, the latter a mixture of Yuma andTemi
THE APACnE-YU3IAS AND APACIIE-MOJAVES. 277
Wolpi — because of a long drought accompanied by a fatal epi-
demic* Very little was known about the Apache- Mojaves be-
fore the year 1872, as they had rarely visited Fort Verde or
come in contact with the whites, but in that year after Brevet
Major General Geo. Crook, U. S. Army assumed command of
the Department of Arizona, many of them were induced to visit
the post to obtain rations. On the first ration day only about
ninety appeared, but on the second, they came in crowds from
every direction, and upward of seven hundred were present.
They continued to engage in hostilities however until 1873, by
which time they were whipped into submission. In the spring
of that year about one thousand of them were placed On the
Rio-Verde Reservation, and the remainder sent to the San-Car-
los Agency.
About five hundred of the so-called Apache-Tontos — ^Indians
'rom Tonto Basin and the Pinal mountains — were taken to the
Rio- Verde Reservation the same spring. They are ot mixed
blood, having descended from both the Katchan aud Tennai
Indians. Mdny of the men are Yavapais who have taken
Apache women for wives — probably stolen them — from among
the Pinal and other Apaches south of the Salt River. They
speak a mongrel tongue which is a mixture of Katchan and
Tennai, and are for this reason called Ahwa-paia-kwanwa
(^nemy, all. and speakj.
The A-Yumas and A -Mojaves were never on good terms
W'ith the A-Tontos before they were placed on the Reservation,
and the presence of troops at the Agency did not always prevent
them from coming to blows afterward, when they met on ration
and count days. During the first summer on the Reservation,
Aey all experienced much sickness, more especially those bands
^ho were last to surrender. They were exhausted from fatigue,
sickness, and lack of proper food; the troops having harassed
ftem to such a degree that they had but little time to search
for food, and were compelled to subsist almost exclusively on tufias,
Or prickly pears, and half-cooked mescal, or American aloe,
'^'hich produced dysentery, and consequently were not in con-
ation to resist the malaria, which is so active in the river
'^ttom of the Verde, While still suffering with malarial fevers
^nd dysentery, they were seized with the epizootic, at that time
•^idemic among the horses. In the month of September, so many
^^^re prostrated with this combination of diseases, and deaths
^^cre so frequent, that many of the dead remained unburned, on
^^count of the inability of the relative to carry the wood neces-
for a funeral pyre. On removal to higher ground the sick
declined, and the next year they maintained a good state of
a lifetime; or teveaty yean, is meant by the expression "one old man/' it is three hundred
yean; or if the a|pe of my informant be included, as it probably should, about four hun-
~ * the Moquu quited the valley.
278 THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN.
health.* It was a very difficult matter for some time to keep
them on the Reservation ; and it became necessary to adopt a
system of checking and counting the men, in order that the
absence of any of them might readily be discovered, and troops
promptly sent in pursuit of them. After many had been captured
and punished by imprisonment for a month or longer, very few
attempted to leave without permission. A better state of health,
and success in farming, together with a firm but just rule, at
length reconciled the majority to what, at first, was aa irksome
life to them.
In 1874 they constructed a dam in the Verde River, dug
a long ditch for irrigating purposes, and that summer raised a
fair crop of corn, potatoes, melons, and pumpkins under the
supervision of army officers. Their success delighted them,
and made them eager the next year to plant a larger piece ol
ground. But in the spring (1875), while they were begging for
farminjT implements and seeds, a special commissioner arrived
from Washington with orders to remove them to the San Carlos
Agency. They protested strongly against the removal, and
told the Commissioner that they had been brought to the reser-
vation against their will, but, as it was a portion of their coun-
try, which the government had promised should belong to them
and their children forever, they now wished to remain, and did
not wish to go to a strange country, and among strange peo-
ple. They had been so successful too on their farm last year,
that they were certain of doing well in the future. They wished
seeds, farming implements, cattle, school teachers, and ever>'-
thinj that would enable them to live like the whites. Their pro-
tests however were not considered, as the policy of the Indian De-
partment required their removal, and they were forced to go.
While on the Rio- Verde reservation forty of them were con-
stantly serving as police and scouts, and in 1874, when the Sar
Carlos Indians left their reservation, about one hundred an(
fifty volunteered to assist in driving them back. From thes
one hundred and twenty-two were selected and enlisted as scout:*^
fifty-nine of whom were A-Yumas, forty-one A-Mojaves arx ^
twenty-two A-Tontos. They were in the field three monlV^s
and did excellent service.
The A-Mojaves and A-Yumas have a dialect in common.
although each tribe uses a few words peculiar to itself. It
differs somewhat from those of the Yumas. Mojaves, and Hual-
pais, but not so much as an examination of the published vocab-
ularies would lead one to suppose.
The A-Mojave men are of tall stature, erect, muscular, and
well proportioned. The average height of twent>'-four of them,
in their bare feet, was found to be 5 feet Syi inches, and the 1
*The Agency was located about sixteen milci north of Fort Verde, on the ea< haak eC *• "TJ
until June, 1874, when it was removed about two mi!es and a half west to higher pooad at we ■•
of the mountains.
THE APACHE-YUMA8 AND APACHE-M0JAVE8. 279
average weight, 157^ pounds. The A-Yuma men are a little
taller and more angular. The average height of twenty-two of
them was found to be 5 feet 8 1-5 inches, and the weight
152 15-16 pounds. These figures are probably rather under than
over the average for the adult men of the tribes, as those measured
and weighed were not selected, but were taken as they came up
to receive their rations at the Agency, and some of them were
not over twenty years of age, and had not yet attained their
maximum height and weight. The A-Mojave women are taller
and have handsomer faces than the A-Yumas. The latter are,
^ith few exceptions, short and gross, measuring in height about
5 feet 3 inches, and weighing about 140 pounds.
Their skin varies in color according to the season, from a dark
mahogany in summer, to a light mahogany or caf<5-au-lait in
•printer. Their hair is evenly distributed over the head, and is
ooarse, black, and straight. It is worn very long behind, and is
out in front on a line with the eyebrows, or in summer even a
little lower, to shade their eyes from the glare and reflection of
the sun. The women wear the back hair reaching just to the
shoulders, and always flowing, but the men permit it to grow
long, never cutting it except when mourning the dead,
SLnd tie it up with a Navajo garter, or a piece of red flannel in
'^^hich they carry a slender stick or bone about eight inches
long, which serves them as a comb. The scalp-lock is never
^een, unless the small lock of hair to which a feather ornament
is tied can be considered as such. Some of the A-Yuma men
Avear long rolls of matted hair behind, which are the thickness of
^ finger, and two feet or more in length, and composed of old
hair mixed with that growing on the head, or are in the form of
St wig, made of hair that has been cut off* when mourning the
dead, to be worn on occasions of ceremony. The hair almost
always harbors some lice, and the one-toothed comb is frequently
t>rought into requisition to scratch with, but sometimes the head
t>ecomes so infested, that they are obliged to resort to some more
expeditious m.ethod of gcttinp^ rid of them than the common one.
They then roll the hair around the top of the head, and fill it
>vith black mud, which they allow to remain twelve hours or so,
^nd then wash it out, together with the vermin which have been
effectually smothered. In summer they wash their heads fre-
<^uently with a shampoo made by wrin'^ing the juice from six or
eight leaves of the Spanish bayonet (yucca baccata), into a gal-
lon of tepid water, first holding them over a fire for a few minutes
^o wilt them. It makes the hair soft and glossy, and, they say,
promotes its growth. A few coarse straggling hairs appear on
^he chins and upper lips of the men, but these are diligently
plucked out by the roots with tweezers, and a beard is never
allowed to grow.
Feathers are the favorite head ornanents of the men, who are
SW THE AMERICAN ANTIQOARrAK.
rarely seun withoul one or two secured to a loclc of hairat the
crown ol'lhc head. Each one is fastened by means of a string
two inches in Icnfjth, so that it will flutter on the least motion
the wearer. Quill-feathers from the hawk or eagle, down, white
or tinted red, a large bunch taken
from the back of the wild turkey, and
the skin of the California canarj- are
those usually worn. Thf women
never wear feathers.
Their foreheads recede from promi-
nent brows, and are Sow and narrow.
Their eyes arc far apart, and almost
hidden by heavy lids, the edges of
which the women often paint black, to
give the eyes a bright look. The con-
junctive is of a yellowish tint, and
A i,.ii..m:<i Apjthc w,.m.n. thcifis is a dark mahogany color.
Some of them have Roman noses,
but the majority have broad flat ones with conspicuous
nostrils. Sonic of the men pierce the septum, and hang from it
a large bead, or a string of small ones. Their ears are small,
and, when not disfigured by cuts, shapely. Many of the men
have notches along the pinna, and all have a short slit in
the lobe of each ear, made soon after birth by means of a piece
of wood hardened in the fire and sharpened. Strings of small
beads, five or six inches long, with mother-of-pearl or stone
pendants, are worn by both sexes. They have large mouths
with rather long thick lips. Their teeth arc smail, closely set,
and. in the adult, yellow and frequently decayed, but always ^ree
from tartar. In the old they are usually worn down to mere
.•itumps, from constant use in holding hides to dress them, or in
softening them when making clothing or shoes. Their chins an:
short and recede slightly. Their hands and feet are small, and
remarkably well-formed, their insteps are finely arched.
Tattooing is practiced by the women, but rarely by the meiL
The married women are distinguished by seven narrow blue lines
running from the lower lip down the chin, the outer one*
starting from the corners of the mouth and frequently having a
row of arrow-shaped points directed outward ; or two ?-igzag lines
run from each corner of the mouth, and the three between them
are straight. A young woman when anxious to become a mother,
tattoos the figure of a child on her forearm for good luck. A
few women have two or three straight lines running a little ox'er
half-way around the forearm. Charcoal prepared for the purpose
is the only coloring substance used in making these figures. It is
pricked into the skin with a bunch of cactus thorns, sharp bits
of quartz or needles.
Paint is freely used at all times by both sexes, for comfort as
I
I
a:
I
h
THE APACHE-YUMAS AND APACHE-M0JAVE9. 281
well as ornament. It serves them as clothing, keeping them
warm in winter and protecting them from the heat of the sun in
summer^ they say. Red is the favorite color, and is commonly
obtained from red clay which they dry. reduce to a powder, incor-
porate with saliva, make into small cakes, and dry. Afterward
they bore a hole in each cake
for a string, by means of which
2 they carry it tied to the girdle
uj S ready for use. When they wish
2 o ^^ ^pp^y *^ ^'^^y "^'-^ ^^ ^y ^^^'
o 5 bing the edge of the cake in
^ o some saliva in the hand. They
^ generally smear it over the
Q 0^ whole person, and scrape
J^ ^ :^ straight and waived lines, or
k: 3c o ^ther designs in it with the
^ " :? ^^ps of the fingers. They are
.^ *^ < then literally **red men." Ga-
^ K = Icna and burnt mescal are
f^ " used on their faces, the form-
5 ^^ ^^ ^^ er to denote anger, or as war
A paint, being spread all over the
o face, or over all except the chin
'^^^S^ Z ^ ^^<^ nose, which are painted-
o y- red. The burnt mescal is usu-
"^ ally smeared on, and waved
Q lines are made through it
from the nose to the ears, or
^ -^ it is daubed on in spots all
« ^ over the face, or two parallel
lines are drawn across the
cheeks on each side of a row
of dots.
o *^ - <cc The ordinary costume of
*- 7 *** — ^ < the men in summer is a verv'
^ )Ui ^*-*^ o ^ simple one, consisting of a
I- *^ " K o pair of moccasins and a
_ breech-clout. The latter is a
K « strip of calico, about two
yards long, passed between
^ne legs and hung over the belt in front and behind, the hind end
^^ching nearly, if not quite, to the ground; or a strip of buck
^kin, the hind end of which, ^when the hair of the animal is allowed
^0 remain on, so closely resembles the tail of an animal, that in
^riy days the report was current th *t the Apaches had tails. In
^'ntcr, the skin of some animal dressed with the hair on. or a
Navsyo blanket is wrapped around the shoulders, and long buck
*^ leggings are sometimes put on. Occasionally they wear a
283 THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN.
jacket, which is made by doubling a deerskin crosswise, cutting
a slit at the fold through which to pass the head, and tying the
sides together, leaving spaces for the arms. The women wear two
buckskins hung over a bdt, one in front and one behind, in the
form of a kiit, and in cold weather, a third one suspended from
the neck by strings, and bound at the waist by the belt to protect
the chest. The edges of the skins are cut in deep fringe, on
which numerous cartridge shells, little rolls of tin. etc., are often
hung to produce a jingling sound, and a few straight and waved
lines are painted above the fringe. Rabbit's bones, with chevrons
or arrow points cut on them, arc strung on the suspenders which
hold up the chest covering. The kilts of a few of the A-Yuma
women in summer are composed of strips of bark hung over a
belt The women wear the same kind of moccasins as the men.
The A-Mojave moccasins reach nearly to the knee, and each one
is made of half a buckskin turned over in three folds to protect
the legs, and secured to the ankle by means of a string. The j
soles are made of undressed cowhide with the hairy side out and '
cut in the natural form of the foot. The legs of the A-Yuma
moccasins are shorter, and not folded, and the soles are made of
thick dressed buckskin, which is brought up over tlie foot, then
gathered and fastened to the uppers. Each_ person us ually does
Jiis own sewing, and ihc implements used areasteel knlleTanB an i
awlrnacle^Dra~steel fork by breaking off all the lines except one.
Some of them still use their primitive implements, a sharpened ]
bone for an awl, and a small flake of sharp quartz for a knife. |
Sinew from the deer is their thread. The men dress all of the 1
skins. They soak the green hide in water to loosen the hair, i
then throw it over a smooth, round stick, which they incline I
against a tree or rock, and scrape the hair off with the scapula of J
the deer, or, lacking this, some other suitable bone. They then f
spread it out on a bush to drj', and afterward roll it up, perhaps |
to carry it about with them for some time. When they wish to j
make use of it, ihey soak it again, and after thoroughly wringing ']
out the water, sit in the sun and pull it until dry and soft. ]
Moccasins and buckskin clothing have to be redressed after every J
wetting, otherwise they become hard and shrunken. 1
Beads, which also serve them as currency, are Ihc commoner 1
ornaments. Frequently as many as four pounds of small ones
may be seen wound around the neck of one person. A couple of
strands are su.spend^d from the slit in the lobe of the ears, and
the women tie a few around their wrists. The small white china
ones are those usually preferred. Veiy little bead-work was J
attempted before i K74. and the designs were of the simplest kind, I
being limited to straight, curved and zigzag lines. A fringed and!
painted buckskin pocket is suspended from the bead necklace!
to hold a small round looking-glass which is a very important]
article of a young Indian's wardrobe, as much of his time i
THE APACHE-YUMA8 AND APACHE-MOJAVES. 288
devoted to decorating himself in order to gain the admiration
of the women. Before the introduction of the looking-glass, he
had to content himself with a look in a pool or vessel of water.
The men wear a bracelet from two to four inches wide, around
the left forearm, to protect it from the recoil of the bow string.
It is made of heavy otter or deer skin, and is ornamented with
paint, beads or brass buttons. Those who have muzzle-loading
guns wear one made of leather, in which little tongues are cut to
hold percussion caps.
They live in circular brush huts u-wah, about five feet high,
and from six to eight feet in diameter. To make one, a hollow
space is excavated with sharp sticks and their hands, and the
earth is banked up around the circumference, until they have a
bowl-shaped depression about a foot and a half deep. Around
the edge of this, bushes or branches of trees are stuck, bent over
and fastened together to form a round top. In winter it is
thatched with grass, tule, or soap weed so that it will shed rain.
An opening is left on one side, which serves as an outlet for
smoke, as well as a doorway. The fire is made just inside the
opening. For a bed they break up the ground, let it dry, pick
out the stones, and then spread down dry grass. Seeds, meat,
buckskins, extra clothing, etc., .'ire hung outside on upright
poles. Formerly only afew huts were usually found together,
^nd they were occupied by members of one family, as these people
bad to scatter over the country in small parties, and move
frequently, in order to obtain a sufficient supply of food ; but in
seasons of plenty, viUagcs,of about one hundred^ouls would be
t erme d, when the huts of each family wcrj always built in a
group by themselves.
A very small fire suffices them, and they never waste wood by
building large ones, even in winter, or when wood is very
abundant. When cold, one warms himself by squatting down
and wrapping his blanket around him and the fire. To kindle a
fife, they resorted to the fire drill before the introduction of the
*^int and steel, and matches, but usually preserved coals in the
^hes to avoid the labor of drilling. 0-oJi* wc-tc-kiua'tc. "Make
the fire blazy" is the common expression still used, even when
the fire is to be kindled by means of a match. A slow torch
^ade of dry dead-wood was carried in traveling. It enabled
them to make fire or smoke signals, by means of which they
J^ovild communicate with their friends at pleasure, as well as to
'kindle a fire at their next stopping place. For a drill, they use
^ piece of the .stem of the o-ok kad-jc or "fire-stick bush," about
^^*o feet long and half an inch thick. They dip one end in the
^^nd, then pressing it in a shallow depression made m a piece of
^^ soft wood, such as the stalk of the yucca, which is laid on
^hc ground and held by the foot, whirl it bjtwcen the hands. In
^ few seconds the friction produces a small quantity of very fine
284 THE AMERICAN ANTKiUARIAN.
charcoal, wliicli, when rolled out on some dry grass or bark-fibre,
and given a hght puff or two, bursts into a flame.
Basket-ware and vassels of pottery ar^ in common use.
Tlieir manufacture is confined to the women, who own all such
property. Unglaz^d earthen vessels, of various sizes, for domes-
tic purposes, such as pots, a-mat, [o cook in, with a capacity
of from two to three gallons, large shallow bowls to hold food,
and water-jugs with globular bodies and narrow necks, a-itiat
ha-thi-wa, and so-ivah, the largest holding as much as four gal-
lons, are made out of red clay. Some of them are decc-ated
with one or two narrow horizontal
bands and zigzag lines painted in
k darker or lighter colored clay.
' They all have convex bottoms,
and are thin and very brittle.
None of them have feet, but those
used for cooking purposes arc
supported over the fire on three
Aiuche Basktt. stones, tf--4'jJ///-i'l-;«/. Themoulding
is done entirely by hand in the lap or on the ground, yet the vessels
are quite symmetrical in shape. The clay of which they are formed
is dried, ground on a metatc, and then worked into a dough with
saliva, and water which has been rendered mucilaginous by boil-
ing cactus in it. The bottom of the vessel is formed of a lump
of the dough, which is pressed into shape with the hands, and
the rest is built up of rolls, each one of which adds about one
inch to its height, and is allowed to dry a little before another
is added. One hand on the inside and the other on the outside
press and smooth the clay to give the vessel its proper contour
and thickness. Saliva is used freely on the hands to facilitate
the work. After a vessel is completely formed, it is thoroughly
dried in the sun or near a fire, and then burnt by itself in an
open fire. Strong, light, globular jugs, to carry water in. are
made by covering loosely woven basketwork with pitch or red
clay. These have two small loops or liandles on the largest
part of the body, for the attachment of a string or band, by
which the jug is carried on the back suspended from the head.
They vary in size front mere toys to those having a capacity of
four gallons, and every woman, and every girt down to the age
of three or four years, possesses one or more of them. Th^y
are one of the most important articles of th-„-ir manufacture, as
during certain seasons of the year water is very scarce in their
country, and often has to bs carried long distances. The strength
and lightness of thejugs recommend them to other Indians, who
frequently procure them in trade.
Wm. F. Cor busier.
DHEQIIIA LANGUAGE AND MYTHS. 385
Correspondence.
DHEGIHA LANGUAGE AND MYTHS.
EJ, American Antiquarian:
Owing to the long delay which must ensue before the publica-
tion of "Contributions to N. A. Ethnology, Vol. VI. The
Dhegiha Language," it has been thought expedient to furnish a
statement, with an abstract of the contents of the volume. The
author was missionary to the Ponkas from 1871 to 1S73, and
then began his study of their dialect, which is substantially that
of the Omahas. From 1878 to 1880, he resided among the Oma-
has, and on his return to Washington he took the originals of
forty-eight myths, legends, and ghost stories, twenty-one histori-
cal papers, and three hundred epistles, all of which had been
<lictated to him by the Ponkas and Omahas in their own dialect.
Ke also collected similar material in the language of the lowas,
Otos, and Missouris, and a Winnebago vocabulary, with gram-
TTiatical notes.
The Director of the Bureau of Ethnology has proposed to
publish Vol. VI in three parts: Texts, Dictionary, and Grammar.
X*art I, "Myths, Stories, and Letters," will contain an Introduc-
t:ion by the Director, one by the author, and the myths, legends,
^host stories, historical papers, and forty-eight of the three hun-
^.Ired epistles, mentioned above, with interlinear translations, critical
^lotes, and free English translations. Of this body of texts, 544
Images, 4to., have been stereotyped at the Government Printing
CDffice since March 18S2. Part I cannot be published before the
^^omplction of the other parts. The other letters and several
*Tiyths gained since 1880 must be reserved for publication in
-ixnother volume. Part II, the Dictionary, will have a twofold
^Arrangement, Indian-English, and English-Indian. Up to July,
X885, over 16,000 Indian-English entries were transliterated and
^"^rranged in alphabetical order. No more has been done on
•^Account of frequent interruptions. From November, 1882, to
I^eb., 1883, ^^^^ author was in Indian Terr., collecting similar
* iiformation in the cognate Dhegiha dialects, Kansas, Osage, and
^^uapaw, which material, however, is too extensive to be admitted
into Vol. VI. The preparation of "Omaha Sociology,'' the
c^orrection of proof for Dr. Riggs' Dakota Dictionary, and the
"Collection of vocabularies, etc., from Oregon tribes, have occasioned
further delays. Lastly, since July, 1885, the author has cooperated
286 THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAK.
with the other workers of the Bureau, in the preparation of an
Indian Synonymy, giving special attention to the Dakota or
Siouan, Athapascan, Caddoan, Kusan, Takilman, and Yakonan
linguistic families. Even with uninterrupted attention hereafter,
it will require at least two years for the completion of the Diction-
ary, to say nothing of the Grammar.
The first myths in the Dhegiha collection are those in which
the Rabbit is the hero. i. "How the Rabbit killed the Winter"
has been published in the Antiquarian. 2. "How the Rabbit
caught the Sun in a trap" explains the origin of the lock of singed
hair on a rabbit's neck. Prior to the occurrences related in this
myth, the Sun dwelt on this earth. 3 and 4. "How the Rabbit
killed the Black Bears." One version explains the origin of the
catamenia. By means of his magic art, the Rabbit overcame the
Black Bear nation, (who had held mankind in subjection), reducing
them to the state of mere animals; and thus he proved the benefac-
tor of the Indians. 5. On another occasion he slew a giant, who
would not allow the Indians to eat anv animals which thev killed.
6. In the myth of the Rabbit's journey to the Sun and the upper
world, he kills his uncle and aunt (the Eagles) and their progeny.
This myth resembles in several particulars one told by Dr.
Washington Matthews, U. S. A., about a Navajo hero's adventure
with "harpies." 7. The Rabbit and the Hill-that-devoured-peo-
ple." This relates how the hero assumed the human form and
entered the hill, where he found many Indians. He rescued
them by cutting to pieces the heart of the hill. 8. "How the
Rabbit cured his wound." He told his grandmother to gather
certain herbs which he described. 9. The myth of the "Rabbit
and the Grizzly I^car" is almost identical with the Dakota story of
the Blood-clots Boy, which appeared in the "lapi Oaye" about four
years ago. The Ponka version tells how the Rabbit served the Griz-
zly Bear by driving the game forward, the formation of his son
from blood clots by addressing magic words to them, and the final
death of the tyrant at the hands of the young Rabbit. 10. "The
young Rabbit and Ictinike" may be viewed as a continuation of
the preceding. Initwcrcadof the magic clothing of the hero,
the wiles of Ictinike, and the recovery of the magic clothing just
before the owner caused the death of his opponent.
In these myths, the old Rabbit (or else his son) is opposed
to Ictinike, the deceiver of mankind, while in Algonkian myths,
^lanabozho, the Great Hare, is said to be the deceiver himself.
1 1. The adventures of Si-dhe-ma-kan as a deer are placed next,
as he is said to be identical with Ma-schin-ge, the Rabbit.
J. Owen Dorsey.
Bureau of Ethnology, Washington, D. C.
-o-
MOTHER-RIGHT IN SOUTH CAROLINA.
ltd, Anicn'cafi Ant'tquariaii :
Hon. Lewis H. Morgan and other ethnologists of more or les»
note have occasionally referred to the existence of gyneocracv—
MOTHER-RIGHT IN SOUTH CAROLINA. 287
the mutter-recht of the Germans — in America. Conclusive evi-
dence to the fact that this singular form of government was
once recognized at the South, as well as among the Iroquois and
some of the more western tribes, has recently come into my posses-
sion in the shape of a tracing of an Indian deed which is preserved
among the records of the South Carolina State Department.
This curious old document bears the date of 1675, — only five
years after the first Carolina Settlement at Port Royal by CoL
Wm. Sayle. The text is a follows:
"St. Gyleses Plantation Cassoe..
To all manner of people,
Know yee that wee the Casseques natural borne Heires and
sole proprietors of great and the lesser Cassoe lying on the River
of Kyewaw the River of Stonoe and the freshes of the River of
Edistohe doe for us ourselves, our subjects, and vassalls, demise,,
sell, grant and forever quit and resigne the whole parcell and par-
cells of land called by the name and names of great and little
Cassoe with all the Timber on said land and all manner of appur-
tenances any way belonging to any part or parts of the said land
or lands unto the right honorable Anthony, Earle of Shaftesbury,.
Lord Baron Ashley of Wimborne, St. Gyleses, Lord Cooper of
Pawlett and to the rest of the Lords Proprietors of Carolina for
and in consideration of a valuable parcell of cloth, hatchets, beads,
and other goods and manufactures now received at the hand of
Andrew Percivall Gent,: in full satisfaction of and for these our
Territories, Lands and Royalties with all manner the appurten-
ances, priviledges and dignities any manner of way to us our-
selves or vassalls belonging. In confirmation whereof Wee the
said Casseques have hereunto sett our hands and afiixed our seals
^his tenth clay of March in the yearc of our Lord God one thou-
^nd six hundred and seaventic and ^wq^ and in the twenty-eighth
yeare of the reigne of Charles the Second of Great Brittaine,
France and Ireland, King defendr: of the faith etc. Signed,
sealed and delivered in the presence of us: John Smyth, Jacob
^Jiiight, James Palmer, David Maybancks, (the marke of) John
^''alkcr, (the marke of ) James Cluss, (the marke of) Henry Clem-
ent.'' Then follow the "markes and seals" of four "Casseques" and
^H'enty-three "Indian Captains." These marks of the Indians
^'"e nnerely scrawled lines such as any child might make who had
^^ idea of the use of a pen. One is designated on the <\cc(\ as
^, hill capt.;" eight bear the legend, "the mark of a Indian Cap-
aine^" and of the remaining fourteen each has an accompanying
'^**^cription describing it as "the marke of a woman Captain."
We may infer from these signatures that the Indians who
•^ade this deed were in the midst of the transition from gfvneocracv
. ^ne patriarchy of later times; and that among them mother-
**>nt was not confined to the direction of household affairs, as
^ that studied by Morgan, but women were intrusted with
Public ofllice — a part, at least, of the government of the tribe be-
*^8 in their hands. The four Casseques^ however, whose signa«
388 THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN.
turcs came first and have the Locus Slgilll appended, are all
males. The first signature is "the mark of the Great Casseque
and his scale;" the second, "the marke of the next great Casseque
and his scale;" the third, "the marke of a Casseque- — his scale;"
the fourth, "Casseque — his marke and scale." It seems likely
that these are the signatures of the trihal chiefs,. while the twenty-
three "markes of Indian captains," which include the signatures
of women may be the marks of gentile chiefs.
John Hawkins.
Prosperity, S. C, July 15, 1886.
AMERICA AND ATLANTIS.
Editor American Antiquarian :
I can strongly recommend to the attention of American scholars
the remarkable essay by Mr. Hyde Clarke, the Vice-President
of the R. H. S. (of England), on the "Examination of the
Legend of Atlantis in reference to Proto-historic Communication
with America," just published in its transactions by our Royal
Historical Society. Like most of Mr. Hyde Clarke's writings, it
is suggestive and full of curious learning, though few might be
inclined to accept all the bold conclusions to which the writer has
arrived. The idea of the writer is that the account of Atlantis by
the ancients is far too like America to be accidental, and that there
must, long anterior to the Christian era, indeed before the civiliza-
tion of Europe, have been communications between America and
Africa, out of which the ancient Egyptians, and afterwards the
Greeks, formed the legend of Atlantis. The connection of the
people of Eastern Asia with those of the northern regions of America
has been, Mr. Clarke thinks, established, and in his " Khita-Peru-
vian Epoch," an essay published in 1S77 (which Americans ought
to read), he cleverly works out thj C3nnection of the Chinese and
Indo-Chinese with the Peruvians. The theory of "The Four
Worlds" was taught by Crates of Pergamos in B. C. 160. This
represented Europe, Asia and Africias one continent, balanced by
an Austral continent to the south, (which we may take for a dim
tradition of Australasia, pDssibly visited by ancient navigators in
the Indian Ocean, but not considered worth colonizing). On the
other side of the world were two other continents balancins: these
two, — one on the north and the other on the south. This is a
tolerable description of real facts. The only error was the supposi-
tion that North and South America were separated by the ocean.
This statement Mr. Clarke thinks "too close to be accidental."
Plato says that Atlantis was larger than Libya and Asia put
together, and that there was a sea with many islands in it running up
into the continent, so "it appears to be a bay with a kind of narrow
entrance." This may imply the Caribbean Sea. The country
seems to have been rich, abounding with metals, especially fff^
THE RED AVING ELliPHANT. 289
and silver, and fine fruits. This would do for Mexico. The legend
is said by Plato to have reached the Greeks through the Egyptian
priests, and was thus a part of the " wisdom of the Egyptians."
-"Elian speaks of a legend of a continent beyond the Atlantic
"larger than Asia, Europe, and Libyan put together." There
were cities there and plenty of gold and silver. Diodorus Siculus
also speaks of a great island beyond the Atlantic where trees bore
fruit at all the seasons of the year. Cicero in the Somnuim
Scipionis hints at other continents. Even St. Clement, (the Father
of the Church), refers to worlds beyond the ocean. Vergilius,
an Irish priest in the 8th century said there were antipodes and
people living there. Many Irish legends relate to the '^Island on
the border of the world."
It has been the fashion to regard all these as mere clever guesses
at truth, but I agree so far with Mr. Hyde Clarke, that they are
more than that, though I cannot accept all his conclusions. I would
•'suggest however, that the evidence of communication between
Europe and America prior to Columbus, or even to the Viking
discoverers of Vinland is worth considering. Perhaps even in the
pf^pular American histories of the future the statements of Plato
^nd of the ancients about the Atlantic continent may claim a
piace. W. S. Lach-Szyrma.
Cornwall, England.
THE RED WING ELEPHANT.
^^itor Am, Antiquarian,
In the July number of the Antiquarian I see you mention
Mr. Putnam as having made a statement "that there are elephant
"bounds at Green Lake, Wisconsin, and near Red Wing, Minne-
sota." You had reference I presume to the second edition of the
Pamphlet on "Elephant Pipes" in which appears a letter from
^^' Willis DeHass, making such an announcement. Now as
3*ou have demolished the Wisconsin elephant, I can do a similar
^^J'vice for the Minnesota one, and thus prevent a "Red Wing
^^phant" fiction going the rounds of the item columns of the
Antiquarian Journals of the world.
Last year, in the fall, I spent some time at Red Wing and
^ooroughly explored the country in every direction. In that
^hole region I found but two mounds representing animals.
^^ne was a bird, and the other, an effigy of an ordinary tailless
^'^irnal, similar to those at North McGregor, Iowa, but only fifty
*^et in length from nose to rump. It has no prolongation of
f '^out at all, so could not be made into an elephant by the most
^'^^ginative person. No one but myself, to my knowledge, has
*^^cle sur\'eys or critical examination of the outline of the earth-
works in the Cannon River Valley, and therefore I presume that
^rie correspondent referred to bv Dr. DeHass was myself. Dr..
-290 THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN.
DeHass in some way must have misunderstood my letter to him,
written in reply to his general inquiries.
It would be too bad to have an "elephant" that I did not find,
and which is the offspring of a misapprehension, unloaded on an
innocent world which is already sorely burdened with many
-archaeological frauds and humbugs.
Yours truly, T. H. Lewis.
St. Paul Minn., August i, 1886.
■o-
The Museum.
DEVOTED TO THE INTERESTS OF COLLECTORS.
EDITED BY EDWIN A. BARBER.
• Having made special arrangements with a competent engraver
to furnish outline cuts of archaeological specimens, at the rate of
75 cents cacn, we shall be glad to figure and describe any
specimen owned by any one of our contributors on receipt of this
amount accompanied by a sketch or photograph of the original.
This unusual offer is made in order that rare or unique antiquities
which are buried in private collections may be brought to the
knowledge of other students and collectors. The cost is about
one-third of the usual charge for the simplest engraving. Wc
trust that all who have relics worth figuring will avail themselves
of this offer.
The Universal Exposition, which will be held in Paris in 1889,
will include an Anthropological Section. Archajologists in this
country are cordially invited to cooperate. Communications
should be sent to Professor G. de Mortillet, D^putd A Saint-Ger-
main-cn-Laye (Seine-ct-Oise), Paris, France.
Mr. a. G. Richmond of Canajoharie, N. Y., reports the dis-
covery of a curious stone disc, in the Mohawk valley, on a new-
ly ploughed field which abounds in relics. It is about two and a
half inches in diameter, made of a bluish slate, with a hole in the
center. One side contains an etching of a bow and arrow above
which is the date 1774 and below, the letters W. K. As no cop-
per or iron implements have ever been found in this vicinity, the
presence of this production, evidently, at least in part, the work
of a white man, is inexplicable.
Mr. J. R. NissLEY, of Mansfield, Ohio, sends the sketch of a
hematite implement, which was ploughed up near Gallon, Ohio.
It measures i 11-16 inches in diameter at the base and one inch
high, being conical in shape. When found it was enclote
THE MUSEUM. 291
buckskin sack. Mr. Charles Penny packer, of West Chester, Pa.,
found some years ago, near that town, a somewhat similar imple-
ment of the same material, hut which was almost rectangular at
the base, instead of circular.
A few years ago, while digging in an old Indian burying
ground in Wyandot, Co., Ohio, Mr Nissley exhumed three skele-
tons which had a quantity of buckskin adhering to the bones.
RELICS MADE FROM VOLCANIC ROCKS.
Ed, Museum:
In April, 1885, accompanied by two sons in search of government
land, I traversed the State of Nebraska from the south-west corner to
Niobrara River, in longitude 99^ 20', where they located. Our
'route lay principally over Lacustrine deposits and Pliocene sands.
No mineral or archaeological specimens were found, until we
reached the vicinity of the Niobrara. There the interminable
l)ed of sand deposited by the Pliocene sea had been burst through by
the action of internal heat, and evidences of the wondeiful changes
'wrought upon the material of which the crust of the earth is com-
posed, lay scattered around upon the surface. Masses of lava,
cilevated from the depths below, of irregular shape, and full of
j)ockets, caused by the formation of gases during the evolving pro-
<:ess, app>eared as huge rocks of green stone. Sand, melted by the
intense heat and more or less perfectly mingled with the coloring
wiatter held in solution by the lava, had formed into chalcedony,
^rarnelian, obsidian and moss agates, varying from nearly white to
light green, red and black; and their surfaces were still blistered
«s^nd rough, and in some cases coated with a thin layer of carbonate
^^f lime. By the action of the hot water of geysers upon the
^^and and volcanic deposits, white, yellow, and dark-green, and
;5probably red and black flocula were deposited; and these, under
pressure, were formed, white, red, yellow and black jasper, and
"^hose of intermediate colors. Travertine was also deposited, and in
'^he alluvial soil of the river bluffs, stalagmites. Petrified wood
-s^nd bones v/ere not unusual.
Of relics manufactured of the above described volcanic formations
ihave: a knife a half an inch wide and 4}^ inches long, made of
fcluish-gray chalcedony, two spear heads, 2^ inches wide; one
-^ and the other «; inches long:, made of jjrecnstonc; one arrow
«iead of chalcedony i^^ inches long, and two smaller ones made of
^^ellow jasper, a stone hammer ground around the center, 1 inch
1 ong and ^ inch in diameter, made of yellow jasper, an arrow
^ead I J^ inches long and a half inch wide, of chatoyant obsidian;
^i pestle, internally travertine, externally greenstone; also one
^mall and two large stone hammers, grooved around the center,
^nd two globes, or balls, made of fine compact sand-stone. The
larger globe or ball weighs 3 lbs. 1 1 oz. Its diameter is 4 1^ inches.
292 THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN.
With the exception of two slight elevations the ball is very regularly
formed, and its surface is very smooth. On one side of the ball
green serpentines j/^ of an incli iapart can be traced, and several
square spots are colored dark green.
Jerome Wiltse.
Falls Citv, Neb.
PESTLES AND BANNER-STONES.
£i/, Aluscum :
I send herewith a few drawings which may interest you. Fig. i
is a beautiful and remarkably symmetrical object of green ribboned
shale, perforated in the center. I send this and Fig. 2 as bearing
somewfiat upon the question of symbolism to which you have devoted
considerable attention. The latter is bored through from the flat side,
and countersunk, terminating in a mere dot. The semilunar and horse
shoe form, noticeable in cross-section, are suggestive. T have three
others identical in form with Fig. 4, but they are not perforated.
The largest is seven inches and the smallest four. All arc highly
polished. Would you include these objects with Totems? Or
are they suggestive of Phallic worship ? If so, this argues intercourse
with Asia at a remote period.
Figs. 3 and 4 are pestles. These pestles were found on the same
field. The upper one is diorite; the lower, green stone. Among
the numerous pestles in my collection none approaches these in
form and finish.
Fig. 4 is like several in my collection, broken off and worn
into a rounded heel-like form not, evidently, in the trituration
of corn, but probably in the preparation of pemican. I learn through
Mr. I. M. Remley, who spent some years in Washington territory,
that the Indians use pestles to pulverize their beef and venison,
with a flat stone beneath. In the operation, the blows fall
obliquely on the corner of the implement. Hence we rarely find
a pestle without a blemish.*
I would here remark that a very large majority of the pestles
that have come under my notice, are characterised by an oblique
base, probably constructed thus with the above object in view.
Mr. Remley tells me that the western Indians have no conception
as to the origin of pestles. They appear to have been passed down
from generation to generation from a distant period. Indeed, I
have some specimens in my cabinet that bear evidence of remote
antiquity. The evidence consists in the disintegration of the feldspar,
while the quartz and hornblend crystals stand out prominent, in
sienitic and dioritic specimens, leaving thus a rough surface, but
very distinct from the effects of the pick or chipper.
Fig. 5 is an illustration of an object of deep interest to me, at
least, as it tends in the direction of one of my cherished hypotheses.
It was found among gravel on our north west coast. It is deaiif
*This remark applies more especially to implements with expanded bases. The bdt m^
shaped are exceptions.
THE MtFBErM. 198
Wiilcr-woru. Tlif pcrfonilimi, which was niiuk- with an uiiruplly
Ii(;vc}fU drill, in not t:ciitr^lly Incatcil, hut remark iiblv symmetricul.
The circular strijc arc still faintly visible. The upper margin is
worked down Id a roiiiKlcd furin. Il w;is probably ornamirnlal.
Many TL-nr» iigo ii number of an:d»gnus forms were taken from
n mound in Warrtii County, O, Mr. C. E. Blossom veciiretl four
of thtm. This one is a fair .ivcragt in size and form. My hypothesis
looks lo our north-west coast for the earliest evidence of man's
Kcupancv of this continent, and Fig. 5 is probablv one of them.
1 am vcrv rcspeclfnllv vours,
Alesandersvillc, O. ' '' S. H. Binkt.f.v.
.Ql<l Wcdgwoo<l," the unique art production of that unique art
"^^*1, — the second half of the eightecuth century, takes its name,
*a usual, from the locality of its production, but from Us
au
THE AUGRIOAH ANTIQUARIAK.
oil, ■
invcnlor, Josiah Wctlgwooi!, who, spiiiigin^ from
Englisli potters, wtis horn iit Burslem, SlafFonlshirc, in 1730,—
youngest child of a large Ltinily, His ctiucution would probaH
be that of the ye^iman class of his time, iintl iudiitlcd little mo|
than reading, writing, and niithmotic. Even this cam
eiirly, for ho wa^ apprenticed in 1744.. About 1759 he bcgi
business alone and in a very humble waj', but if his resources v
limited, he was not content to keep to the same rude methods j
manufacture then practiced in the district. Earthenware,
domestic use, was then
only production. He
only employed new m
rials, but made imprw
mcnts m tht form ind color
of his V, ut Bv the use
iiL\\ combinations of
, [>;lT'ses, and improved
ig, he prcxlucid a fine
ti\, nearl> (.quol In
:l I un, to M hich he gave
inmo of "QtieenV
c m complniient to
Queen Lhailotte, one of
his earliest patrons. At
this early time the potter)-
district of Staffonlshire,
now the most extensive in
1 !i rude and unsettled state, owing to tl
clay and other materials had to be
of pack-horses, the finished goods carried
market by the same transport. The nearest turnpike ro.id
at least twenty-five miles from the manufactory. Through his
energy and peraevcrance, the Liverpool turnpike was extended to
Burslem in 1763, and soon proved of great advantage to the district.
Much of his and his neighbor's manufacture was sent to Liverpool
to be shipped to America. Later he was one of the most active
supporters of the canal through Staffordshire, and built his ntw
pottery, to which he gave the name of Etruria, on its hanks. Th6_
biogratihies of Wedgwood give interesting accounts of hb ei
struggles and triumphs over the difliculties of his art, his wortl
upright character, his connection with the celebrities of his
in art and science. He died, at the age of sixty-five, in 1795,
his epitaph reads: "Who converted a rude and incousidcral
Manufactory into an Elegant Art, and an important part of Xatioi
Commerce."
In considering Wedgwood's work I must ask my readers to
carefully note the difference between " Old Wedgwood" and " Old
Wedgwood Hortr." Wedgwood's own words (1778) arc my
autliority: "May not useful ware be comprehended under iHc
simple definition of such vessels as are matie use of at mc&ls? • • •
turope,
of roads; the
I
THE MUSEUM. 295
I am getting some boxes made neatly to show our tablets in. We
should use every means in our power to make our customers believe
they are not THE WARE." It maybe safe to call all the useful,
Wedgwood Ware^ — all the ornamental, or decorative, Old
Wedgwood.
Thanks to the appreciation of his Queensware by wealthy patrons
all over the world, he turned his attention to the beautiful art-work
which is what we understand by the word "Old Wedgwood."
This was a distinct creation, nothing like it had been made before
him and he says (17S9): " But of the improved kind, of two or
more colors, and a true porcelain texture, none were made by the
ancients, or attempted by the moderns, that I ever heard of, till
some of them began to copy my jasper cameos."
Old Wedgwood "Jasper" may be described as a kind of cameo
bas-relief, of a beautiful dense material, taking a natural polish by
atmospheric action, and capable of an artificial one by the lapidary.
It was produced in the form of vases, plaques, portraits, medallions,
smiill cameos, and many decorative articles for mounting in jewelry,
in steel and gold, some very choice cups and saucers and tea services,
polished inside the vessel, not glazed. The blue and white relief
is the best known, but many other colors and combinations were
Used, — black, green, red, lilac, chocolate, buff. Specimens of these
colors are known, but somewhat rare. The charming color is only
equaled by the splendid modelling of the reliefs. He was himself
^ S'^>o^ modeller, but he had the help of the best workmen it was
possible to obtain. His designs were from antique gems and more
^*"iginal subjects designed by the best artists of the day, —
■^Isi-xman, Hackwood, Webber, Tassie, Pichler, Pacetti, and many
2J tiers. Subjects were modelled also from designs by Sir Joshua
^^jrnolds, Lady Templeton, and Lady Diana Beauclerc.
The portraits in the jasper body are a very interesting series.
•^^o.ny of the celebrities of his time were produced in this material,
your Washington and Franklin not forgotten.
The busts also include those of antique philosophers and poets,
ci modern celebrities. These are usually in what is called "black
*^^^^ialte," a dense, hard, durable pottery of fine surface and capable of
Sood effect by good modelling. Wedgwood's greatest work was
^^»"liaps his reproduction of the celebrated Portland or Barberini
^5i«e. The original is glass, and cameos, cut from two surfaces.
/^l-i^ Duke of Portland lent Wedgwood the original vase to copy
^"^ l^is material, and some copies were produced, known as the
■^»"st fifty," the original subscription price being fixed at fifty
S^ineas each. Good copies are very rare and of course much more
cost.iy. Each was engraved by the gem engraver, and the result
^'^^^ one of the finest pieces of ceramic art ever produced.
It is difficult to give any description of ceramic work without
"liastration. In this article you have the portrait of Josiah, drawn
°r Stubbs, a friend and celebrated painter of his time, and the
oi>\rcrse and reverse of the beautiful Sydney Cove medallion. This
n^^ciallion is an interesting one. Sir Joseph Banks, the naturalist
296:
THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN.
of. the expedition under Capt. Cook, sent home to Wedgwood
same of the clay from " Botany B.iy" for experiment. Wedgwood
made an exhaustive chemical analysis of the quality of the mineral.
w*hich was printed in the Transactions of the Royal Society in the
year 1790. This article is entitled ''^On the analysis of a mineral
substance from JVeiv South
Wales, In a letter from
yosiah Wedg-ivoody Esq.
]F, R, S, and A, S.^ to Sit
yosefh Banks^ Bart,^ P
R, S.;' read April 15th
1790, and occupies fifteer
pages in the columns
I Wedgwood also instructec:
i Webber to model a subjeci
suitable for the medallion
"Hope addressing Peace
Art, and Labour.'' Th<
result is a very beautifu
medallion and valuable
with the inscription "Made
by Josiah Wedgw-ood, oj
Clay from Sydney Cove.'
The original medallion from which this illustration was taker
has just been presented to the Cook Museum, of Sydney, by Mr,
Richard Tangye, of Birmingham.
It is to be wished that a complete collection of Wedgwood's
works may some time be seen in one at least of your museums
before the time comes when it will be impossible to obtain Old
Wedgwood; the supply has always been limited, an with new
collectors and museums drawing upon the diminishing quanlit}
it is likely to be still more rare than at present. Wedgwood shoulc
be represented in every ceramic collection, however small, for il
is of a distinct character and stands alone, the only British Ceramic
Art without a rival.
Frederick Rathbone.
MADE BY
JOSIAH ^YEDGWOOD
OF CLAY
FROM .
SYDNEY COVE
STONE PADDLE AND COPPER SPADE.
£d. Museum:
While in Vernon Co., Wis., I obtained a very fine stone paddle,
14 inches long.
I also obtained a fine copper axe or celt in the upper Iowa
River Valley, weighing 1^2 l^s. It is an unusual form, being
shaped like a spade, but the outer edges are much thicker than
the inner. It is nicely corroded.
Yours trulv.
Address St. Paul, Minn. ' T. H
THE MU8EUAI. 297
THE FORT NEAR GRANVILLE, OHIO.
Editor Afuscum:
There is a fort and efigy mound two miles north-east from
Granville. The Fort is composed of a large circular embankment,
about four feet high, situated in the woods, to the west of a large
meadow, but bounded on the north and south side by a deep
hollow, not far distant from a road and orchard, making an im-
perfect circle about seven hundred feet in diameter, but containing
within it a second smaller circle, which is two hundred feet in
diameter. The large circle has a gateway fronting to the east, the
H'alls of which run at right angles with the embankment, form-
ing a covered W'ay, about thirty feet long and six feet high, but a
continuation of the main wall extends towards the interior abr)ut
one hundred and twenty feet, making the entrance very long and
well guarded. The entrance to the smaller circle is nearly on a
line with that of the larger circle, and is twelve feet wide.
^^ithin the smaller circle is an effigy mound in the shape of a
biitterfly, or double bladed mace, which is eighteen feet wide and
forty feet long, but draws it in at the center, making virtually a
double mound.
There is within the fort, about one hundred and ninety-six feet
north of the circle, another mound, and between the two a deep pit,
tho height of the mound and that of the circle being about four
^«^ot. All these earthworks are considerably defaced by the plow.
Trees have been uprooted on the circle, and the top of the em-
'>ankment is very uneven, making it very difficult to walk along
*he summit, as the logs intervene, every few feet.
It is a soil that gives way easily, and washes badly. In view-
'^gr the fort I was impressed by its apparant age and by its
^*^e. Trees — oak, beech, chestnut — were growing upon it, three,
^oiir, and six feet in diameter, showing that man\' generations
"^v-c grown, flourished and died since the wall was constructed.
-^ solemn silence prevailed in the place, making the forests lonely,
^•-it bringing up many thoughts, as to the people who have
P^^s«ed away.
Wakrex K. Moorehead.
ranville, Ohio.
MOUNDS AND RELICS IX UTAH.
^- Museum:
Itx traveling: over the sand hills and clav hills in this countrv, I
uonally discover a great deal of broken pottery about them,
r*^^gh whether they are natural mounds, or artificial, I have not
"^^** able to determine, as I have never dug into them. The only
^•*^r to be found near these mounds are two or three water
298 THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN.
pockets on a large sand stone which will, after a shower of rain,
be full of water, and they will contain probably one hundred
gallons at their greatest capacity.
As the road now runs, it passes Navajo Wells to the south of
them, ruins are reported, but I have not visited them. Turning at
Navajo Wells to the north, we come to Johnson Settlement.
Below the settlement are several mounds, from which some arrow
points, skinning knives, and a few pieces of pottery in a Very good
state of preservation, and human bones have been obtained. These
mounds have probably been built for burial places, as Johnson
Settlement stands in a box canon. Some very nice specimens of
pottery of the coarse, notched kind, have been found in the cracks
of the ledges. Above Johnson are some very fine hieroglyphics.
At Kanab, 12 miles west of Johnson, are mounds known as Moqui
ni ounds. Occasionally some fine specimens of pottery are found
a t these mounds.
A few years since. Dr. Edward Palmer dug into one of these
mounds, but as he abandoned the work when he had only gone
some sixty feet, and had hardly got to the center of it, I presume
that he did not find enough to remunerate him for his labor. The
washing of Kanab creek at high water has at times exposed human
bones in a sand hill two miles above Kanab.
A mound is reported about eight miles south from Pipe Springs
covered with pottery and flint implements, but I have not visited
that point.
I hope in the future to visit the places above referred to, that I
have not visited, and I may be able yet to go down into the bowels
of the earth (i.e.) Grand Canon of the Colorado, where a great
many ancient Indian signs are reported.
Utah. Wm. Sellers.
SKELETON FROM A MOUND IN WISCONSIN.
On last Saturday while John McDonald and Eben Fox wx»re
engage in repairing the road in front of McDonald's place, it
became necessary for them to level off one of the many mounds found
along the banks of the Buffalo Lake, and on so doing they brought
to light the skeletons of four persons. Three of them were found
sitting upright, while the fourth was found lying at the feet of
the others, all being in a well preserved state. One of the skulls
shows unmistakably the cause of death, the point of an arrow
head having penetrated the skull, and extended fully one half
inch on the inside; it is. broken off close to the skull on the outside
and remains firmlv embedded in the bone. There is no doubt
that they belong to that ancient race of people known as the Mound
Builders, whose history is not and probably never will be known.
— Moutello Express^ y^^b't ^^^^*
THE MUSEUM. 299
TABLET FROM OHIO*
Ed. Museum :
Enclosed find a photograph of a relic of aboriginal art,
which I regard as the most important relic in Ohio, of the tablet
kind. It is of argelacious shale, but is smoothed down or polished.
It shows as great age as the Cincinnati tablet, but harder usage.
It was found in removing the earth, preparatory to opening a stone
quarry in Union Township, Hancock County, Ohio. The figures
are drawn, or countersunk, one-twentieth of an inch deep, and
apparently with a pair of dividers. No. i represents a six pointed
star, two lines to each point, and one extra line, — thirteen in all, —
the number of days in the week in the Maya calendar. No. 2 is
a circle with a six pointed star in the centre. Within the circle,
and around it, there arc thirteen sections. The outer section is
divided into nineteen sections, — one less than the number of days in
the Maya month. The Mayas worship the mornmg star as typical
of the returning day. No. 3 consists of a central circle and a pivot
point, and six arcs drawn on the circnmfcrence. Leaving out the
pivot point there are seven points in the inner circle, and one in
each space left by the cutting of the arcs, nineteen in all, or — one
more than the months in the Maya year. Nineteen multiplied by
nineteen gives three hundred and sixty-one, — one more than the
days in the Maya year.
The reverse of this stone has a circle with a four pointed star
which probably refers to the four missing, or intercalary days.
The historians of the Mavas state that at a certain time in their
wanderings, their wise men corrected the calendar. Is this the
calendar?
Findlav, Ohio. Wm. Taylor.
POTTERY VESSELS IN GLENWOOD, IOWA.
Jtci, Aluseum:
Enclosed please find a photograph of a restored figure of vessel of
pottery found near Glen wood, Iowa. When first found the vessel
was complete, but before it came into my collection, it had been
broken into pieces. It is a dark gray unburned clay, tempered with
micaceous quartz.
It was found by a party of workmen in making an excavation
for a road through a low bluff or hill under perhaps six feet of
"Bluff Deposit" (Loess). A few bits of burned clay and pottery
have since been found at the same place. No earthworks in the
vicinity.
Glenwood, Mills Co., Iowa. S. V. Proudfit.
~~ — ^1 I
'*We publish this letter to show what speculations our coi respondents are liable to fall into. The
letter has been in our possession for several vears. Tablets with marks of a compass or divider!
upon them are generally regarded as doubtful. This interpretation we certainly consider very
curious. —Ed.
300 THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN.
REMARKABLY SHAPED l^IPES.
We have received photographs of some remarkably shaped
pipes. One is called the Beaver- tail Pipe, photographed by Mote
Bros., Richmond, Indiana. The following are the dimensions:
Length of stem, lo^ inches; greatest width, 35^ inches; height of
bowl, 5 inches; diameter of bowl, i^ inches. Another pipe called
the Sugar Loaf, was photographed by J. H. Chandler, Madison,
Indiana, which is a large stone pipe, weighing 3 lb. 10 oz. It was
found in the river bottom sand, seven miles from Madison,
Ind. It represents the human face, with mouth open and eyes
closed. The nose is broken or bruised. The stone tapers from
the bottom to the top. The bottom is perfectly flat, giving a firm
basis for the pipe. The orifice for the stem is in the rear opposite the
face. The third pipe is of clay moulded with warts or nipples cover-
ing the bowl. The mouth flares out and has a wide rim, and the
orifice tapers from the mouth to the hole for the stem. A circular
line runs around the mouth on the top of the rim. No other
marks on it, but the place for the stem seems to have been broken
off. This pipe is owned at West Farms, N. Y. Editor.
RELICS IN PENNSYLVANIA.
JSd. Museum :
I have some spear-heads and 275 arrow heads, (had i,ocK)), some
of which are made of jasper, stone, agate, white flint, crystal, and
one arrow-head of iron ore. I also have 30 large Indian relics,
some of which I have made the several sketches enclosed. I also
have 17 Indian beads which were dug out of graves; also toma-
hawks, axes, etc., etc. All of these relics were found in the eastern
part of Berks Co., Penna. I started my collection three years
ago. It numbers in all, Indian relics, minerals, etc., etc., about 800
specimens. If it is convenient for you, would you let mc know
what these large relics are. I have the large relics numbered;
if you state the number, I will knwo what you mean.
Yours truly,
Kutztown, Berks Co., Penn. Eugene J. Sharadin.
Ed, Museum:
In answer to your enquiries in the circular just received, will
state that my collection now contains about seventy specimens of
Missouri and Kentucky mound pottery — bottles, vases, images,
dishes, pots, and one pipe, and one bone needle, etc. Also, about
a dozen stone axes, half dozen pestles, some peelers (celts), a few
flint arrow and spear heads, and some miscellaneous articles.
THE MUSEUM. 801
The accompanying photo represents a part of my collection of
Missouri mound pottery. There are sixty-five pieces in the collec-
tion, and not many duplicates among them. The fore central
figure, lower shelf, is what I call the "Chinese bottle." Two others
in the collection are of the same general form, but differ in each
particular feature. Please give me your impressions on the
"Chinese bottle."
Geo. W. Morse.
DOUBLE-BARBED ARROW POINTS.
Ed, Museum,
Doubtless many readers of the Am. Antiquarian have in their
collections, or have seen double barbed arrow points. In my
collection I have located four of this type. I found one a number
of years ago in Ashland Co., Ohio, badly broken. Its peculiar form
secured it room in my collection. About two years ago I procured
in Williams Co., of this state. No. 2. Such fine workmanship in
so small an arrow I have never seen. Last summer I purchased
in Peoria Co., 111., near Glasford P. O., two arrow points of
the above type. Both were found on one farm. The middle barbs
on the two last found are not nearly so prominent as are those
on the two first.
J. R. NiSSLEV.
COPPER BEADS.
A find of copper beads in connection with the skeletons of Indians
is reported from Hebron, Wis. We do not understand that the
relics were exhumed from a mound but from an Indian grave.
Editor.
803 THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN.
Editorial.
AMONG THE LIBRARIANS.
The editor of this Journal has had the privilege of recently
accompanying the Librarians of the United States on an
excursion, and pointing out some of the antiquities of the region
traversed. A meeting of the Association was held at Milwaukee,
July 8-12. The excursion took in the Historical Society at
Madison first, where perhaps is the most extensive collection of
copper relics in the world. A pleasant sail over Lake Mendota,
brought the party to the grounds of the Insane Asylum, where
there is a most extensive and interesting group of effigies, but
unfortunately the group was not seen, not being included in the
program. The Dells of the Wisconsin were next visited and the
rare beauties of the place enjoyed. There are many antiquities
of interest in the neighborhood of the Dells, but the party was
not able to see them. It was above the bank that Dr. Lapham
discovered a square walled enclosure. There is an effigy
of a panther, situated close by the steam-boat landing, but this
has been nearly destroyed, and the fragment would have escaped
observation except as it was pointed out. It was not very far
from the Dells that the celebrated battle with the Black Hawk
took place. It was called the battle of the Wisconsin Heights.
This was opposite Prairie du Sac. There are also at Baraboo^
some ten miles from the Dells, many effigy mounds, but the
points were too distant to be reached at this time.
La Crosse was another point where there are interesting tokens.
The Pictured Cave at West Salem, is but ten miles distant.
There are effigies also in the public park. At Trempeleau, on
the Wisconsin side, there are also many effigies. The name La
Crosse is suggestive of early explorations. It was here on the
level prairie that the Indians formerly practiced their celebrated
game of ball, to which the French gave their name. La Crosse,
owing to the stick which was used in catching the ball.
At La Crosse, some of the party had their first view of the
Mississippi river. It was however, not especially inspiring or
beautiful. The native wildness has disappeared, and the loveli-
ness of the stream is now marred by the inventions of meiL
Unsightly mills, lumber yards, and a vast amount of rubbishco««
the soil where formerly the wild wood and silvery waters
AMONG THE LIBRARIANS. 308
almost an Eden of Beauty. It was near La Crosse that we came
in sight of the interesting peaks or rock which so resembles a
vast dome arising out of the water, and which has given the
name of Trempeleau to the locality and the village adjoining.
This has always been a land-mark, but it is better seen from the
deck of a steam-boat than from the window of the cars. On the
west side of the river the route lay through many villages which
j>erpctuate Indian names, and which bring up associations of
Indian history, such as Waubesha, Winona, Red Wing, Pepin,
and others, all names of Indian chiefs. The name Winona also
perpetuates a myth or story. It was on the bank of Lake Pepin
that Winona, the Indian maiden is supposed to have had her
home. Maiden Kock is still pointed out as the place where she
took the fatal leap, called the Lover's Leap.
The railroads, however, are taking away the poetry of the
region. The view is so hasty that one has no opportunity for
poetry in his thoughts. The tradition merely comes up to mind
and then passes away. When it was the custom to travel by
steam-boat, everything was favorable to romance, but the beauty
of the scene and the romance of the story have been sacrificed
to the haste in our methods of travelling.
It was along this same river that General Pike led his party
of explorers, and visited the villages then existing. His map has
located many villages and ancient mounds, which it were well if
the archaeolgists could identify at the present time. There are,
to be sure, mounds at Waubesha and Red Wing, some of which
have been described, but the work of identifying these with the
locations described by the early explorers has not yet been done.
This work has heretofore been left to private individuals to be
done at their own expense, notwithstanding the amount that has
been laid out by government for mound explorations. In certain
proto-historic points, next to nothing has been accomplished. The
person who has the charge of the work, does not seem to think
that there is any importance to these Western and North-western
regions, but the expenditure must still be bestowed upon the same
old region where there is a prospect of securing relics for the
museum. Paities are still sent out to dig into mounds, — parties
who are just fitted for digging, but no person of intelligence has
been sent in this region to explore. Archaeologists who were
near the field, do the only work there is done and that at their
own expense while thvi parties at Washington remain in ignor-
ance of what pre-historic tokens the regions present.
The ethnological map of this region should certainly be made.
The location of the mounds and Indian villages should be
ascertained now before the tokens have disappeared, but as a
substitute we have a list of mounds compiled from the books-
already published, and no new localities are visited, or put upon
the record.
-S04 THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN.
The enquiry came up in connection with the names of the
villages, whether there was any way of ascertaining the meaning
of these names. This is a very practical subject, and one in which
the public is greatly interested. The answer, of course was at
hand. It takes a very considerable knowledge of the various
Indian languages to know the meaning of these names. This
knowledge is possessed chiefly by the gentlemen who are
engaged by the Ethnological Bureau, but they have not given
much attention to the subject.
The history of the tribes formerly located on the head waters
of this river is still unknown It is even uncertain as to what
tribes formerly prevailed here. It is known that the Sioux
occupied the region west of the river, — that particular branch of
the Sioux which goes by the name of Md-Wakans. The Winneba-
goes, also a branch of the Dakotahs or Sioux, are known to have
occupied the region east of the Mississippi river, and north and
west of the Wisconsin river. This tribe bear in their name the trace
of their origin. The names in the early Jesuit relations was Ouine-
peag, or Winnepeg. They were called by the French, des Puants or
the Stinkards. This was owing to the tradition which prevailed
among them that they came from the salt sea, or the stinking
water. By placing the name and tradition together, we have
Winnipeg or Hudson's Bay as their original home, but the region
•east of the river has been traversed by two or three tribes ; the
Foxes, after the time of their defeat by the French, and by
the Ojibways after their migration to Lake Superior. These
tribes were, however, intruders, and there is no doubt that the
region on both sides of the river, as far, at least, as the Wisconsin
river, was possessed by the Dakotas. The Winnebagoes were
the last aboriginees in Wisconsin ; their villages were scattered
over the whole state. They retired from the region late in history.
The tokens found in the state should be studied in connection
with their history.
At Saint Paul the party was welcomed to the Library ©n
Minnesota by E. F. Williams. A marvelous growth has taken -»
place in this library. It was destroyed by fire only a few years —
ago, but now fills many alcoves in the two stories of the capitol J
building.
This was the fourth library which the party was permittee
to visit; the first at Chicago, the second at Milwaukee, the thin
at Madison. Two of them, that at Chicago and this one
Minneapolis, have arisen, phenix-like, out of the fire. Librari<
are not the only, or even the chief source of information t(
archaeologists. Cabinets and field work are also essential
This is the encouragement which the western man has in hi
field. Realizing the value of large libraries, and appreciating
sympathy of the librarians, who constitute a sort of Third Hoi
in the Congress of investigators, but knowing that origiitf'
AMONG THE LIBRARIANS.
search requires men to go into the fields about which, little
is known the western man enters into his work even when
these libraries are difficult of access. Proximity to the fields,
familiarity with the relics, acquaintance with native races, are as
important as the ability to ransack the shelves of a library.
It is remarkable how little of pre-historic Archaeology is con-
tained in western libraries. The outlay has been mainly in the
direction of local western history, and this is well. But we know
of one library which has spent thousands of dollars on the different
editions of Shakespeare, and yet not a Shakespearian scholar, or
at least one who has any reputation as such, within a thousand
miles. It is a mere craze or fashion that would put so many^
editions of Shakespeare into a library and leave the department
of Archaeology so meager.
There is a correlation between libraries and histories, especially
at the west. Historians seem to find lodgement along side of
librarians. But with archaeology the case is different. The
work is done single-handed and with little aid from any source;
not even the companionship of fellow archaeologists.
At Chicago, Mr. A. R. Poole, the author of Poole's Index, is
attended by Mr. R. Blanchard, who has written several com-
pilations of early history. At Madison, Mr. L. Draper, the
author of The Battle of King's Mountain, is attended by Mr. C.
W. Butterfield, the author of many books on Western History.
At St. Paul, Mr. E. Fletcher Williams, the Librarian and Editor
of the series of Historical Reports, has as an associate. Rev.
Edward Neill, who has written many works on history.
Vast sums have been expended on local histories, but the
only valuable part of those histories has come from the few
professional historians whose names we have given, but who have
given dilligent study to the points before them, and who have
risen above the temptation to write cheap books for extravagant
prices, discriminating between those who have made history and
those who pay for it. There is one advantage, however, in the
local histories, the pioneers will be known, and their names will
be perpetuated.
If western librarians had spent more in gathering early maps and
works on archaeology and aboriginal history, and less on county
histories, they would be better equipped than they are. it is
impossible to find many of the expensive books on Archaeology
at the west, and yet enough has been expended on these county
histories to furnish all that is desirable in this department.
The excursion led from St. Paul, Minnesota, to Ashland,.
Wisconsin. The growth of Minneapolis and St. Paul was made
manifest by the contrast between them and this city of Ashland.
Here rough society, rude surroundings, the saloon element in
the ascendancy, ignorance and vice prevailing without stint ; a
journey of a hundred miles or more brought the party from the
TQE A3IERICA.N ANTIQUARIAN.
highest and most adv.inced tokens of modern art, and from the
evidences of culture and intelligence to the roughest condition
of pioneer life, The contrasts, however, show through what
stages civilization may pass, and how the rude and rough
precedes the cultivated and improved. Will this be the case
with our country at large. How long will it be before the salooR •{
element will lose its control and the better elements of society
come to the front. Society in Ashland is phenomenal, but it isl
such as would prevail throughout the west if saloonists had theiij
way.
The opportunity was here given to visit some of the localitii
which have been made memorable by the exploits of the earljT'
Jesuit Missionaries. It was on the main land at the head of
Chequamegon Bay that Allouez established the first mission in
Wisconsin, or west of the Lakes. Menard preceded him at
Keweenaw Point, but did not establish a mission. Menard came
in 1660. Atlouez came to this point in 1665, Marquette in 166S.
The guide books say that Marquette established his mission at
La Pointe on Madeline Island, and refers to the chapel standing
there as if built by him, and speaks o the painting which was
brought over by him. Marquette was not the founder of a
mission in Wisconsin at all. The chapel which he occupied was
but a bark hut, erected between three Indian villages on the
main land. The mission was deserted, and for i/Oyears there was
no chapel and no missionary, but the name La Pointe de Sprit was
perpetuated. It was, however, transfered from the main land to
■a point on the island, and tradition fixed upon that place as the
site of the mission. The present chapel was erected about 40
years ago. There is, however, a chape! in the rear of it which
is a little older, and was erected by Father B.iraga, the notnl!!
missionary of the region. The history of this mission has recenf "^
been written by Father Chrysostom, a monk who was driv«
out of Germany by Biamark. He has spent much time ia
gathering the facts. They will be presented to the public soon.
La Pointe has two chapels; one formerly occupied by the
Presbyterian mission, the other is the chapel referred to above.
It is worthy of note that a school was established here by the
American Board of Foreign Missions, and that in that school,
Mr. Warren, the half-breed, whose work has recently been
published by the Minnesota Historical Society, began his educa-
tion. The mission has been abandoned, but the effect of tlie
school has been felt, and this is one product of it. It was
doubtless owing to this mission that the fur-traders, who came
so early into the region, were able to give their children advanta-
ges. The old French voyagers have passed away. Of that
peculiar type of civilization, which arose at the west when the
French traders mingled with the Indian tribes, and the mil
race formed a population of itself, scarcely a vestige rci
ica
tRdH
AMONG THE LIBRARIANS. 307
The missions on Madeline Island, both Roman Catholic and
Protestant, were both established when this population was
somewhat numerous but when the fur trade ceased their occupation
was gone. A few graves by the side of the church contains the
remains of many of them but there are no living representatives.
The French have given place to German and other foreigners.
The Indians have been gathered in reservations on the main land,
and the ordinary visitor to Ashland finds no trace of the Jesuit
Mission or of the French and Indian population, and would
hardly be aware that this was the first point where missions were
established. There are reservations at Bayfield, Lac de Flambeau,
Lac de Cortcreilles, and here, bands of Chippewa Indians can
be seen, if one takes the pains to reach them.
Odanah is a point on the Bad river ten miles from Ashland.
Here is the station to which the Protestants moved their mission
in 1840. and here there is a Protestant church with a half-breed
as a minister. Some of the party spent the Sabbath among these
Indians at Odanah. The singing was in the native language.
It was peculiar, resembling in its monotonous drawl, the drone
with which the natives were accustomed to sing their melancholy
dirges at the graves of their dead. There is a plaintive and
melancholy air to all Indian music. The flutes formerly used by
Indians were plaintive, pitched upon a minor key. So the tunes
sung by these Christian Indians, though common and familiar,
were very different from the same tunes as sung by white men; so
different that it took a number of experiments for the excellent
singers who were in the party to catch the time and tone and
bring themselves into harmony with the native voices.
The cemetery was the most interesting place. Here was a
mixture of Pagan and Christian symbols, of primitive and
modern architecture. The clan totems are perpetuated, but in
the same ground where these totems are the cross, and other
Christian symbols appear. We did not ascertain whether the
totems were on pagan graves, and the crosses on Christian graves,
but think that they were indiscriminately mingled. Paganism
strangely survives even among Protestant Indians. There were
little houseo over nearly ail the graves, — houses 6 ft. long, 4 ft.
wide, and about 4 ft. high. They were built with shingled roofs,
the roofs projecting over the sides and ends. The gabel ends
were sealed up and on the matched boards were pieces of carved
wood painted in different colors in the shape-offish, birds, cranes,
or hawks, which were the totems of the Chippewa clans. Below
the roof, the houses were left open except as four posts supported
the roof. A floor is placed at the bottom. This open space
is supposed to be the dwelling place of the spirits of the
dead. Free circulation is given to them to come and go as they
will. Below the floor there is a large drawer. In this the food which
has been offered to the spirits by being placed on the floor, is
308 THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN.
deposited when mourners leave the grave. The superstition still
prevails among the Indians about the state of the dead ; the
spirit needs to be furnished with food and all that the person
delighted in and used when living. The Chippewas still keep the
dog feast. We saw little fat puppies which were destined to
sometime furnish the materials for such a feast to these semi-
civilized-pagan-christianized Indians. We visited the house
where the feasts are observed, a rude structure boarded up but
with cracks between the boards ; a roof above but nothing to
protect from wind or cold. The superstition is such that when
the dog is cooked for a feast, a part must be buried for the
use of the dead, the rest eaten by the living. A large amount
of money has been spent upon the Chippewa Indians, but to
all intents and purposes the majority are pagans still. It has
been thought useless to continue the mission longer, the property
has been sold, thou'jh a school which has partial support from
the Government is continued. The Catholic mission is more
flourishing and will probably continue.
EXTRA -LIMITAL ANIMALS AND MOUND
BUILDER'S PIPES.
The discussion on extra-limital animals was begun in one of
the early numbers of the present volume of the Antiquarian,
but has been suspended for a time. It will be remembered
that the occasion for this discussion was the paper by Mr.
W. H. Henshaw which was published in the Second Annual
Report of the Ethnological Bureau. This paper drew out
the pamphlet on Elephant Pipes and a supplement from Mr.
C. E. Putnam, the President of the Davenport Academy of
Science which we have reason to believe has been veiy exten-
sively read. We also took issue with Mr. Henshaw and wrote a
review of his article quoting extensively from Squier and Davis^
but said nothing about Elephant Pipes. We also published the
reply by Mr. Henshaw, but delayed the response to his lettes
until the present time for various reasons. In the first place w«
were convinced that the elephant pipes should be thrown out
the case, as they are of very doubtful character ; they may
genuine or may be not. An intimation to that effect unfortunatel' —
brought us into controversy with our quondam friends, t
members of the Academy of Science. We were sorry for tin
but in as much as we were in for it we concluded to go throu
until the truth, so far as can be ascertained, was made kno
In the second place, we had not the evidence which we wan
The evidence is accumulative. The carved pipes which are h<
in the various cabinets of our country may prove one thing
EXTRA-LIMITAL ANDlALa AND MOUND PIPES, DOB
Inother according as ihey are examined. We take the ground
, collector who has gathered relics and made himself
bmiliar with them, is as capable of deciding about the resemblances
K which may be recognized in them as the naturalist Is.whohas only
Lplastcr casts to examine. The opinion of collectors on the point
i therefore important. No authoritative dictum can be put
farth to decide the question. An assertion is of no value unless
jllttended with proof,
J Third, the illustration of the subject required other cngrav-
We had at the time photographs of certain pipes, which
furnished an additional proof.
Photographs are better than
casts, in our opinion, — better
than engravings, but engravings
may illustrate the point.
The specimens which wc now
have in mind confirm these
positions, and show that the
skill of the mound-builders was
greater than our author was will-
ing to acknowledge. It matters
not, whether every specific kind
of animal and bird was indicated
by them, there is sufficient de-
finiteness in the construction of
these imitative forms to show the
difference between extra-limital
animals and tho.se which arc not.
That is all we have undertak-
en to show. V\'e leave the matter
of elephants and other such
foreign animals, undecided forthe
present, but take up the question
of the toucan and the manitu
again.
There seems to be a doubt on
nearly every relic which contains
the elephant fifjure. Until this
doubt is removed, we leave such
relics, out of the question. We
have taken issue with Mr. Hen-
sh.iw on the matter of close re-
semblances in the animal carv-
ings, but of course must consider
only those carvings which are
known to be genuine,
. One new specimen which we bring in. will be the mound
from the Davenport Academy of Sciences. This was
r — CTfTEK PIPK.
810 THE iJIEHICAN ANT14U\RU3S.
figure:! by Mr, E, A. Birljsr in the "CantiiK-ii:." Vol. 3, Nq. (
April 4. 1883. See Fig. 1. also Fig. 2.
This specinun shows that the diffcren re between the maii^
and the otter, was rccogiiizud by the mcj 11 nd -builders, and it v
depicted on the different ^nlpss. In thj first place the sliajic i
this animal is entirely different frum that of the manitu reprl
sentcd on the pipes now in the llLickro'tre imis-.-iini. The iliffq
encos are as follows: (1.) the b.ick uf this .tnimiil is round*
up, that of the manitu is on the incline, ns ir> n^ittiral with thj
creature; (3.) this animal lias hind legs, but the nii^nitu
sentcd without hind legs ; (3.) this animal is represented witli |||
fore legs erect, claws and feet flat on the ground or stone; (4.) tl
head, eye and mouth diffor entirely from the manitu.
2. The specimen shows that th: mojiiJ-baild^rs were (amilU
with ih; liab:n and atlitud:s of the two animib, and were skillf
nt.,.-»\-
in representing them. (i.)It shows that this animal, the otn
was accn5toni:;d to slide along on its hlnJ fjet with the bod
partially raised, but that the manitu was accustomed to slides
its belly. (2.) It shows that this animal was accustomed 1
stand and watch for fish, the eye, mouth and fore feet indicatid
this very plainly, the manitu being an herbivorous animal, nevT
was represented in this manner, but was frequently rcprcscnlj
with head erect, and with the large mouth and nostril stretch!
out horizontally. See cut.
3. If the naturalist can not recognize the difference bctwccir
carnivorous and herbivorous animal in these two speciincns 1
carving, he has not as good an eye for nature as the moum
builders had. The manitu was represented by Uic mouqj
builders as resting upon the joint in the fore leg, and folding a
hand-like paws in front of its breast, and on this account it 1
called the manitu. The otter never put itself into this attimJ
The difference between the otter and the manitu eould not f
recognized by the naturah'st when only tlie fore parts of t
it T^-^Tia:^ Tii; diifeeiire nriw.
n IVi rrvi n? £ s^rnai -ggrraagg tjit biri pip:- wh^it was
jnmtr-v lETUt psfissasior .'.fVVii:. M. Aniirs.-m, ^ C.:rzi^i-l^&,
:. 'Air nric zail rrrrnrL'n: ;; tn; iJiapL- -V :ii:> h:ri ildc iht
nnn^jT-sinr re il irch thai re" tat sr-calirc t.-arar hi mc AiiriiTjr
Kmmnmii 3: ir'll bs -Tizmzirz thai i: ha.- :i >.n-.— S.-o?-,
aeir ^irruJanrie? oftb; t.'araiL aad. s:- iar z> rb^ sn?::.T:ii;::s r*E
«: 1 -uzar pinss.. Tae d^fTrrea:^ b^rueer. ta:~ b;ri znd ths b:rd?
whicb art c>"dT30L J: tb; M:ss;?-
sn^ A-alJr\-. tss}" b^ ji?cn bj' rriTT^
p:;r;?i;'i! brr^fcs r, i.^z czhcr pprs
hidi zrt described ;; cifers
■JCT ibt nswk. rb; burzLrc. iht
I cbsm'biT'd, i:id zb? norortv-^Kcr,
I N:- od; w\-m::c misiak:; ■: i,-.r i.-.^■ i-.:"
[tbsse crcaTure?!. Wi pr;-?^:^: i^jiTig
With h ibi CizZ ii:'a p;ps wh>cb rsp-
' rciseats lb; wi>,>ipc-~i;rr. Tt.:> cjz
Di-2> as«3 a]>i> by Wr Rirber ::: lbs
same rurnber ^>: :bi iT.itrc.L,-. He
Nrw York, ll is quite rode bul, i».-c»Td»?aadai:. r;-p-\-*cr.:? a
bini pcrr iSfereni froni tie oac ins: njarei \Vs sh,ii;!d ssy
it was die T(XM^)ecl:eT. Fig +
Tbac is i woodpecker jKpe ds^aed in die Anciea: M^Tnu-
mems ifig. 179L In tfaa: jpedroo the bird » repre«ien:ei a* sil-
ling upon ibe pipe as a bas^. and tbe wini^ aai b:l: are harj^n-
tal. pualjd whi the stem. Tne shape i-fl tbe bird is i^b-en :a
batb yedmgns. If the liiencss is noi pcrk^ct, jt: tii? diferersce
bexvecn tbcse ^jechnens and the Iwrds which we j^ppose repre-
scm the toucan is so ^cat t^iar wc ha\ie n.i diifiru^" in deciding
npoa tfacpoinL
2. The habits o^thc birds, zrc indicated In" the arwd pipesi.
The faatets of the toucan as a di'^mesbc bird wa* rcfcrrco to.
There is no addidoiu] evidence or. thi? p>-i:at. Th; »\»dpLvkeT
voald m*. howcicT, be taken as a tame bird, and we :>,:?.<; thi*
dificFcnoe bctweien the two b:rds cin be recdi^niied irj the i^^,;res.
IIL As to the probabilities of tbe caw. we SiV r..- rta>on
vhatcTcr, ■why the Mo--nd Builder.^ shoutd i^o: be u— ::i3r
with crcanres which aboi:ndcd in the GjI; orMi-vicc^. and it
is not difficult to suppose that the>- knew some-Jiin;: abo-t the
animals and lards waich abouDded in Mexico.
I. It seems to so accord with the conclusion? which arch.eolo-
psts haw readied in reference to the c.vtens:\-e n^i.::rations and
k
journeys of the natives that it struck un with surprise that any
one should doubt the point. ( r.) The tribes were not so isolated
as some suppose. The white settlers know that tribes are very
much minf;led on the frontier. Representative.* of many differ-
ent tribes will be found at the various forts. It was so at the
Jesuit missions, and it is so at the present time. (2)The Shawnees
arc known to have traversed nearly all of the eastern part of the
Mississippi valley.and
left signs of their mi-
gration in names and
other tokens from the
head waters of the
Mississippi ri
the Gutf of Mexico,
and from the Susque-
hanna to the mouth
ofthe Tennessee. The
I roquoisal so traversed
the country from the
north-east to the
south-west, and left
their names upon the
early maps as the
great conquerors. The
Foxes as fugitives fled
from the mouth ofthe
St. Lawrence to the
mouth of the Wii
sin and Rock riv
2. Prof F. W. I'ut-
nam maintains that he
has found the traces
of several different
races, in the mounds
of Tennessee. Judging-
from the appearance
of the skulls in the
mounds, he reached
the conclusion that
there were several
tribes which were
dwelling together and
which were buried
together in the stoue graves. Recent investigations in the
of Ohio have revealed more than one era of deposit, and
more ih.n one clas.s of tokens.
Tlie Mound Builders carried on an extensive aboriginal
trade. This is evident from their tokens. Pueblo pottery is
I
EXTRALIMITAL ANIMALS AND MOUND PIPES. 818
found in the mounds of Missouri, mica from the mines of North
Carolina in Wisconsin, copper from the mines of Lake Superior
in the mounds of Ohio, Obsidian, either from Mexico or from
the north part of the Rocky Mountains, is found in many local-
ities. The Pipestone Quarry in Minnesota was probably visited
by Mound Builders from many parts of the country. Nests of
flint implements, from flint ridge in Ohio, arc found in Illinois.
Dark colored flint relics, leaf shaped, from Ohio Falls, arc found
in many places in Illinois and Wisconsin. The evidences of an
extensive aboriginal trade arc numerous. Of course the trade
would not necessarily include carved relics, like Mound Builders'
pipes, but it might include tame birds, such as the toucan, and
if not it would favor acquaintance with the birds and animals of
the distant countries.
4. So many different objects are found in the mounds it does
not strike the archaeologist as strange at all that there should be
extra-limital animals represented in the carved pipes found in
the mounds. The difficulty is to eliminate extraneous objects
from those which may be regarded as autochthonous. Relics
which had their origin in a particular country have to be sepa-
rated from those which are extraneous, if we would understand
the cultusof the people; but the waifs are often instructive, show-
ing that the Mound Builders were acquainted with people dwell-
ing at remote distances from them, and that the broad country
was traversed by them.
5. The traditions, descriptions, and stories which metthecjiriy
explorers show what an extensive acquaintance there was amon^
the early tribes. Champlain made a map of Lake Superior ::ar\
Green Bay from descriptions given him by natives. Marquette
sought the upper Mississippi because he had learned of it from
natives. Ferdinand De Soto wandered far to the north and west,
led on by the stories and traditions, and representations of the
natives. Cabcca de Vaca went the whole length of the Gulf
states, and far to the north-west, because of the tradition of the
seven cities of Cibola. Still earlier the Spaniards from Mexico
under Coronado went through the cities of Cibola, and
reached the mysterious and unknown region of Quivira. suppos-
ed by some to be in Kansas. Every evidence then favors the
idea that Mound Builders were familiar with objects of art far
beyond their own territory.
814 THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN.
LITERARY NOTES.
BY THE E'JITOR IN-CHIEF.
*TnE Ameuican Association. — The meeting of the Association at Buffalo
was attended by some of tlie best ethnologists in this country, and was an
interesting session. The papers by Dr. D. 6. Brinton and Mr. Horatio Hale
have been heartily commended. Mrs. Adolph Pinart also read a startling
paper on the phonetic character of the Maya Hiero^rlyphs. Rev. J. Owen
Dorsey read an interesting paper on •'Secret Organizations among the Osage
Indians;" Mr. J. W. Sanborn. * 'Observations on the Iroquois League." Mr.
H. C. Stone on "The Sacrificial Stone of the Dakotas." Mr. Geo, F. Kuns,
*'Four Gold and Silver Ornaments from Mounds in Florida." Mr. F. W.
Putnam on his exploration of Mounds in Ohio.
The SMiTiisoNfAN Annual Report for 1885, will contain two volumes; one
relating to the work of the institution, the second to the work of the national
museum. To make the work complete, and represent all departments, there
should be a third, devoted to the Ethnological Bureau. The classification
would then be complete, and it would be understood why the Bureau's assist-
ants are expected to work for the national museum. Appropriations are made
every year by congress for the purpose of carying out ethnological explorations
and studies. There seems to be an expectation that every exploration must
yield relics for the national muioum This being the case, we should suppose
that a report of the Smithsonian would embrace the work done by the Ethno-
logical Bureau. The Smithsonian has done, and is doing an excellent work
in publishing monographs under the title of 'Contributions,' and in exchanging
the pamphlets, books and reports published in other countries. The national
museum has an immense umount of nrcha?ological relics, and is gathering them
rapidly from all parts of the world. The Ethnological Bureau seems to have for
its object, the scientific field work.
The Bureau is really a branch of the Smithsonian; the field work is nominally
under the control of the President of the institution, though it U at present
under the control of the director of the Geological Survey. There is one advan-
tage in keeping the Bureau under the control of the presicfent of the Smithsonian
and that is, that the purpost* of the founder, — Smithson, — can be more easily
and fully carried out. and the Bureau would be free from the annoyance of
an annual investigation by a committee from Congress. The great draw-
back, however, is that the department of science, which is the most rapidly
advancing, and which needs the immediate attention on account of the perish-
able nature of its data is subordinate to the deparment of geol'^gy.
The appropriation of Congress to tne Ethnological Bureau, is $40,000; to
the Geological Survey $400,000. Should there be so much diflterencc? We
claim that archseoloey is important, too important to be shoved aside with so
small an appropriation. The field covered by the Ethnological Bureau, is
equal in size to that covered by the Geological Survey. There are more
divisions, and more topics, embraced under the general subject of ethnt»logy,
than can possibly be brought up in connection with geology. They are, (h, Lon-
^ages; (2). Myths; (3), The history and location of tribes; (4). Mounds and
Xlound- Builders; (^), Art and Architecture; (6). Symbols and Customs. Elacli
one of these departments requires specialists who shall study carefully and
critically the tokens.
One can understand how many slices must be cut off from the public loaf
in order to supply the demand is of so many workers as must necessarily enter
these different departments, and how small a portion each one of the earnest
workers receives. We maintain that the contrast is so great between the
amount, bestowed by congress upon the Ethnological Bureau and the Qeo-
logical Survey, because, of the anomalous condition of the former.
♦An account of the Prozrcss of Anthropology, in ihs year 1885, by Prof. Otis T» M
the Smithsonian Report /or 1885.
LITERARY NOTES, 315
Tkaditions of the Aborigines of Ameuica *— Rev. M. Eells' article on
the worship and traditions of l**e Abnrisrines of America, has for its object,
to Bhow that there are traces of bible traditions in this country. The article
is very fair, giving the evidence on both sides. The author taltes the position
that there is a knowledge of the- Supreme Beinij amonij the natives, and that
the term^ of the Sun. the Manitou. the Coyote, the 01 i Mm Immortal, the
Culture Hero, cc. are accommodations, the conception being correct, but
the imagery iKjing l)orrowed from the nature worslup.
He considers man's immortality as a commonly .\ccepted doctrine. Th«
future abode was. to be sure, a material place. Resurrection lie maintains, was
a belief of the Poruvians. and ihsit tiie practi<jeof emlialminu: Imdics was owing
to this beli»*f. The relations between man and the superior lieiuirs of the other
world, is a topic on -.vhicli the author dwells at lenijth. On this there may be a
difference of opinion. There is no doubt but lint creation was the work of
supernatural beinirs. and tlial the idea of Providence wan in a sense common
among tlie aborigines. The tradition of a deluue is well nigh universal. In
this liie bible narrative may be recognized. We cannot account for the univer-
sality ot the triditicm unless this is the case. The question however, is whether
it was for sin or disobedience tu Ood. that the deluge was sent. The moral
distinction is denied by some, and tlie tradition of the flood is shorn of its
significance, sin never having come into account among tlie natives. The
testrmony of missionaries on this point is perhaps as reliable as any other.
The idea of a saviour is recognized in the tradition of some of the culture
heroes, such a3 Mont-zuma, Quetzacoatl. The author speaks of Dokibntl, the
the Changer of the Tinnehs, and Clallams. Jis possibly embodying the idea of
the Saviour, since these people say that Dokibatl was the son oi God, and occa-
sionally called him Jesus.
The subject will bear further investigation. The main question is. whether
sacrifices were practiced as atonement for sm. and whether the idea of asaviour
was ever connected with them? Are sacrifices connected with the names of
the culture lieroes? Do they typify the work of the heroes?
Ancient Coins in Wisconsin. — Dr. J. D. Butler has, from time to time, dp-
scribed the discovery of coins in Wisconsin. The last one mentioned is a copper
coin minted in the reign of the Emperor Hadrian, but foiind in Oshkosh, Wis.,
near Miller's Point on the shores of lake W innebago. It is quoted as a proof
of a commerce, between Asia and America, in pre-hi^^toric times. "The passage
of coins from Alaska to Oshkosh," etc. It may b'^ well to state however that
a coin found at Milton, about which Dr. Butler lias written was taken from
a coin collector's cibinet by a boy, and lost on the street. A silver coin belong-
ing to the limes of Antoninus was dropped from a sleeve button by tiie editor,
and is some where in the soil of Clinton. Possibly at some future tipie this
may be discovered and quoted in the same way. It is said that stone axes
were found in the same field, but stone axes and ancient silver coins do not
often go together.
Babylonian Seal Cylinders. J— Dr. W.II. Ward, when at the East saw
two Babvlonian Seal Cylinders, which he thinks belong to a period from three
to four thousand years before Christ. They represent, a flock of goats, a gate,
a man astride of a bird, a kneeling man holding a tablet, and a seated man
before a vase .
We doubt whether tablets were used, three thousand years before Christ, and
there is nothing about the se^ls. so far as we can judge from description that
would indicate such great age.
Copper Coins of Akbar|— Narnaul was well known for its copper mines.
These mines are not, so far as we can ascertain, very ancient. The coins are
msinly Mohamadanized and therefore of comparatively late date.
The second article is on Antiquity, etc., of the epoch called the Rithi Raj
journal of the Transactions, of the Victoria Institute, or the Philosophical Society of Great
Bn^tn. Vol. XIX: No 76. Article by Rev. M. Eells. re^id May 18 1885.
TAoiencan Journal of Numismatics: page 9.
^erican Journal of Archarobgy. Vol. 11, No. i.. Page 47.
journal of the Aaatic Society of Bengal. No. i.
816 THE AMERICAN ANTIQUAUIAN.
Rasa, commonly ascribed to Ohand Barbai. This is said to be not genuine. The
article refers to some inscriptions on rocks and on slabs. These inscriptions
are historic, dating 1832 and thereabouts. The value of the article is that it
shows the Uiought of the period, and shows how heathenism, animal worship,
and clan system survived in India up to that date, and in fact survives up to
the present time.
Symbolism on Indo Scythian Coins. — The "fillet," the "noose," the
"cornucopia." the "naga," snake, and the "footstool," are symbols on the
Gupta gold coins. Mr.'W. Theobald however, makes a distinction between
the "fillet" and "noose," lie snj's the "fillet" is the same as the wreajh on
the classic coins, but the "noose" is a phallic symbol, the same as the "sistrum" of
Isis, typical of fruUfulness.
The *• fillet" is found on coins in five distinct positions. (1) in the band of
Nike or Victory, (2) encircling the king's head, (3) on a standard or javelin,
(4) on the head or in the hand of a figure in the reverse of some coins. (5)
occupying the leverse as a wreath.
The* " noose" is found in the hand of the goddess, seated on a lion, (2) in the
hand of the Indian, Siva, or his consort, "Snkti," throned on a lotus. It has
no symbolical conneciion with the *' fillet" on Greek or Roman coins, but is a
feminine symbol analogous to the " sistrum" of Isis.
The "cornucopia." as found on Indo Scythian coins, is the symbol of good
fortune, and abundance, as it is upon the Roman coins. It is however fre-
quently perverted on the Gupta coins into a phallic synnbul, the serpentine
termination of it, made to represent the snake's body, and the mouth, or open
part, made to represent the snake with distended hood In some cases this
cornucopia — snake— is seen in connection with the goddess Ardtichro. The
snake's body comes round lo the front, crosses the lap of the goddess, and
depends on one side from the left knee. This tendency to change the syml>ol, and
make it conform to this phallic and serpent worship, is seen more distinctly in
what is called the " footstool." Instead of the lotus the cornucopia »s u^ed,
but the female i^i represented as sitting on a high-back chair with her feet on a
footstool. The *' stool" resolves itself inio the terminal coil of the snake's
body, and represents the solid earth, bounded or encircled by a fold of the
mystic snake, or "Naga."
TiiKEE HEADED OK FouH-HEADED IMAGES.— Mr. W. Tlioobald makcs a good
point, in his article just referred to. entitled, "On Cert^un Symhols or Devices,
on the Gold Coins of the Guptas."* He says: "It is usual to spenk of the
polyccphalic Siva, as three headed or three-faced, but this view is hardly sup-
ported by the coin<», or any necessity of Hindu mythology. On the coins, this
form of Siva or "Okro," is represented not as though in were the artist's inten-
tion to represent three, but rather four heads or faces. What is depicterl is, a
full face in front fianked by two faces in profile and with obviously room behind
for the fourth face, such an ideal figure corresponding very exactly, with the
well-known four-headed "linga."
Siva, though a polyccphalic deity, is not one whose mythological attributes,
like Diana's " Fria-virginius or a Dianse" necessitate a triform conception of his
person and therefore the image on the coins of Ooerki and Bazdco, may fairly
be reganled as representing not three but four heads. Had the artist wished
to represent the god in a triform shape, he would have pnKluced a figure resem-
bling that of Janus, with two faces, neither of them in full profile, but this he
never attempted."
Man or Monkey. — A discussion has been going on among the French
archfcologists, whether the worked flints winch are found in tlie tertiary strata,
eocene, miocene, pliocene, were wrought by man of by his precursor, "anthro-
popithecus." M. de Mortillet maintains the latter opinion, that they are the
work of the precursor of man, but several other archaeologists hold that th^
are not the workmanship of man at all, or of his precursor, but are accideDtM«
crackled by fire and fractured by natural causes. Inatrefages admltt thai
♦See Journal of ihe Asiatic Society of Bengal.— Vol. IV, Part I, No. H, 1885.
LITERARY NOTES. 817
mail could have lived in the tertiary and adiipted himself to the geological
changes, though he says tliat of the mamalian fauna belonging to that time
not one species survives, and the study of the quatenary gravels, render the
assertion exaggerated. We conclude from this that paleolithics" have a long
process to go through before they will become settled.
Thk Descent of Man. — Prof. Cope says: "There are some ihinjrs in the
structure of man, and his nearest relatives, the Chimpanzee. Orani;. etc.. that
lead us to suspect that they have not descended directly from true monkeys,
but that they have come from some extinct tribe of lemurs."
Prof. Morse, also says : "The troublesome fact confronts us. that we And
the evidences of man associated with extinct apes, and the gap between them
is by no means closed in the earlier horizon's." Clineing to the exploded
evidence of the Engis and Neanderthal skulls, he says: " The earliest remains
of men have the most pronounced apelike features. We maintain that there
has been a great deal ot assumption in this argument about the ape-liko man,
and that the assertions will need to be substantiated by more undisputed facts,
before hasty generalizations will be accepted.
♦Antiquity op Man.— Prof. More said, in liisaddross atPhiladelphii: "The
theological barrier denies hisrli antiquity. It rested solely on the fact, that
it was m direct conflict with Mosaic cosmogony, and yot this barrier is unsup-
ported by the faintest scrap of evidence." yet he says: "We meet with a
difficulty, which unfortunately, accompanies the remains of roan, and those
creatui-es which have an affinity with them." "The conditions have rendered
the preservation of their rem-iins a mitter of chance." "The conditions of
life which characterized early man i-nd his associates render the preservation
of their remains a mitter of extreme improbability." "It was evident that this
discovery of the remains of early man. or rather of primitive man. is highly
improbable." We would ask Prof. Morse what the barriers to the study and
knowledge of the antiquity of man, really are? The Mosaic cosmogony, or
the improbabilities of science.
"Chief among the agencies in destroying the evidences of man have been
the glacial floods, and these, if the gluciaiists are right, have occurred, one,
dojine the pliocene, and the other at the beginning of the quaternary. To
these overwhelming and annihilating ice torrents, grinding, sweeping and
inond^ting the north temperate zone, must be attributed tUe almost complete
oblitefmtion of records we hold most precious.
Cephalic Index. — We are happy to know that the craniologists have
the idea of making the shape of the skull a test for the grand
of the human family. The last application of the cranial index
iuasas follows:
I.— White Races.
Lf^iitho. — Anglo Scandinavians, Franks, and Germans, Finns of one type.
'. — Semites, Berbers, Egyptians.
— Oelto Slaves, Ligurians, Lapps.
1 1.— Yellow R.\cb8,
. — Eskimo, ancient Tehuelches. some Americans, Santa Rarbara.
here and there, Melancsians.
— Polynesians.
—American typo. ^aska. SilH»ria, Mongt>l?» Mantcluws, Indo-
; Dmvidians. Thiletans. M day.
III.— Bi^.u'K Racks,
— .Vustrahans. VeddalM and i^mi^Mlor!^ typionl MoUno^an. African
w Bnshmen.
Tasmanians. Mandingtvt, Uavu;*^!!!^
L — Negritos of Malaysia and \h» AudamauA.
proceedings of th« AmcrurtU A**»km*»^»k |Kkt«> iKi\sI \lm^i|t. Sr|^. »$l^. |x^!r xJ'j*
318 THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN.
Winged CriiCLEF.— Rev. Dr. Ward has seen photographs of a monument found
in Asia 3linor, fifty miles north-west of the ancient Iconiuni, which he thinks
belong to the primitive period which we are now coming to call -'Hiltite."
It will be seen that an immense winged circle, here a half-circle, typical of the su-
preme Deity, and cut in a single block, spreads its general protection over all the
figures represented. The wings arc very long, and show the wing coverts
septiratc. and are turned up at the ends. Beneath the central part of this
winged cirrle. on a single stone arc two other smaller circles, the wings of
which meet. The circle is complete, the wing coverts do notapp< ar, and the short
wmgs turn up strongly at their eiuls. Beneath the center of each of the two
minor winged circles is a colossal human or aivine figure, the left one of which
wears a lon^ pointed cup, and lifis the arms straight up on each side of the cap.
Ten smtdler Luman figures are seen, symmetrically arranged and holding up
their two arms as if like Atlas, supporting a universe.
Pr>cesdinos OK THE A. A. A. S.f — Tac value of the periodicals "which arc
published in this country on scientific subjects, is illustrated by this report.
Two years ago papers were read before the A. A. .*^. ai Philadelphia. Those
papers which have not been published in the journds have just come to light.
In the meantime discoveries have been going on, and n\any of these pnpersare
out of date. Science has advanced beyond them. We are happy to notice
that this point is recognized by the secretary, and foot notes are placed below*
the titles as follows: "These papers will be published in the reports of the
Peabody Museum. ** These ptipers will be published in the American Anti-
quarian," etc.
The proceedings are indeed a repository for very valuable ariiclcs. and as
books of reference they are very essential to every scientific man. The only
criticism which we have to make is, that abstracts are published, inste^id of
complete papers. The abstracts are by some considered suflflcient, and com-
plete papers, never come to light. This is however a necessity, for the papers
read, are too numerous, to be published in full, and no test can be applied bv
which certain papers can be selected for publication and other;* left out. A
rule, however, might be adopted, that all papers published by tli,c Association,
should be exclusively so. and the authors should choose between the * 'proceed-
ings" and other media of publication. This would certainly make the pro-
ceedings more valualbe, and wouUl not be objected to by the journals.
Discovery at Gclval in CouNWALii England — An interesting discovery
was recently made in the restoration of the chancel of Gulval Church near
Penzance, of an inscribed slab of granite carved with a key pattern and what
looks like the Roman letters I. A. As Saint la, (from whom St. Ives derives
its name), was killed near here in A. D. 450 by the heathen kingTeudar, it has
been suggested that the stone was Inscribed to her memory. This has been
disputed, but in any case the slab or menhir is a most interesting relic of early
Christian antiquity.
A SERIES of articles on the early history of the Christian Church in Cornwall,
by Rev. W, S. Lach-Szyrma, is now appearing in the "Church in the West,"
a weekly publication printed at Plymouth, England.
-o-
NOTES FROM THE FAR EAST.
BY PROF. JOHN AVERY.
The Aborigines of the Nicobars. — In the Journal Anthropological
Institute fr May, Mr. E. II. Mann gives an account of a primitive piople
observed by him on the Island of Great Nicobar.
The Nicobars are a group of about a dozen small ishmds. lying south of tte
Audamans, between 6^ and 10^ north latitude. The native inhabitftPtS t>i
t Proceedings of the American Association for the Advancemsnt of Science, thtrt/-diifd Wft
held at Philadelphia, Penn., Sept. 1884. Part i and 2.
SOTES FROM THE PAR EAST. 319-
_.tl into Iwograuns.— Ili'i-ip (if Dip i:";ial nud liiosu lA (he iulei'ior,— I'nab
In-jillslinl from tlieu'li'-r Kv mirk-! 'liiTiTeucus of pbyaiqiia nod (.■ii-.Iom.
r<')rmer (ire :i ni("i-i, I M.i.i i uivi.iiiv. doiiblloss. of on uborljrinol
ucoplL' Willi i-u'iiiuMS'- ii. ' . 1^ i^r Ihe >idJH(!i>nt main land. Tbe
liilk-r, Willi iiri? una !'':\:- ■ 'r.-.-r^l Ullind of llie gTOUp, anil WbO
Ji'iiliiiisly sL-rliiik- thi'tii-i i\ ■ ^1 J i:. iIih.jcIjt wootleil hills fiir nwny (mm
ibr or>;i>.'i. rr|)r<>wnl no cftrljci uiiil iuihv Inilj- nboTiglnal roeo So «hy nic tlicy.
tbiir It ix'iiily nitbiu iwoof ibn-e years tbatcxplon'rsbiivoljt-en alilo lo iliscovw
lln-ir riMb' boiiita uiid iiccuruti-ly obai-rvo llieir pbysical c'lmrui'lerlalici nnd
laudc of lite .
' iDiriuj to cxpL-iTtiitl.m, iliR Sbom Pt-n, as llicy nrt mlli"! l.v ■iK'ir TU'i._-M.nrs,
IWb D^iiv'a. Hsilii'r c^ll ibcnnelvcK bo.ir nu ri?>i-iiii>i- - i' ii.r .'.' _iiuis
)• Andaman^iBUtKi^. but liuvD Btralsbt liair. noU i> ' m ii
'e Ibu Mongolian Dbliqmty of ilii ■ ■ , -iriL:!!
■ft S8 mcliM;on Uinollir'rliiiiu! ■ .■ \.. i .;i ..i.. ■ II ivu
jhnlr, H bliiik com pi" si on. ami n bcij.'bi -i i.l.,:.: ■ >■ ■ :_ . Uii.
ledremofibu Hliotn Pi-u consuls of II ^> <:-' ' ■■ xim. uii»n-vil
oullow no end lo bnupdown Miiint, -■■ ■■ ■ ■ i ■ ■ ir; «;,■!> Ui Mii-
)f A nux of men on thU island linvu,; . ' ": -kin Tnr ihc
^n, made of a loth or tho bark of a tree, i.i- Hm-i a hi i ilhIh^jou i>( in'ch
\t Drrtamenu.
belr huls are built on lUtte clcimo^ in the jungle, and eonaitt of n ilnrno
led ^nlch. tiipniirmd by posts six or ciRbl furl niKivc tliu iirnimd. Tbcy
hitered bv a ludder. wbif^ii la cnrirfiilly drawu up at nialil. "Wilbln nri' thG
bcarth no'il Ihi' e.HjkinL- P"!", wb"-b air In.rcly slrlp-^ of hirk, t.>Ul,il s;irk-
«hnpi' iiud siippurifil .111 siLikcs, V.-^fls nf iniPri'i-v jn . -nmiKini- |iriM-iiiL-d
Tbrlr lutial wnip,.ii i.-* a s|"'!,r willi «o,i<l.,i, Ul;,.[. Tii.'V .■.,:,-iriK-i !■,.»."■, willi
some «kill. acd buricr 1bi"ii witb tbo ninst p<!nplc for k'liirR' nrid oihor iiimiiu-
faulurcd arlifle*. Tlirir laiis""?'' Jiff'^rs In a mnrki'd dt'irrtp from tbat spokt-n
nlimE ilio const; nnd. Htrnngr to nay, it possuwca nn extended ny^irm of onmer-
b. — in part boirowiil frum llie coast, — fur nUlt'li ih^ reslrtcted life of Its
"■ ■" r« seem lo [iirnisb no iit^casioo.
piB PniMmvETitmEaop South- wkstkks Ciiisa.— Like some repons
Jt Donlii'i-ii and cusUiru tri^niler uf India. Uiom aru p.irin nf Soutbwuiiorn
• wbiali have loni; been sciik-d hy rudu tribes, whose ethnical relaiiou^. jm
'■ DuiDiiiira nnd cnsloms, iiri! sidl iDipcifecily tmdurstiHHl. Tbe uiuivrn
n of the Snowy Itnn^iL's of Tll>cl has been their lust defence against fliu
. . imoaw of more civilized peoplud.
le «rli<^t of ihe few tnivi-iers who have BiieeiNBruUy rroMed lhi« oounlry,
account o! wbni they saw. wus llic cpiebrateil Vent-iian, Marco
r times wu Iiiii-l- a record of tine i.nd Qnbut In 1S40: of Cupt.
: .ki»loo in INOI : of T. T. Cwper in lSd«. and in llin samo ye.ir the two
dilions nailer Lieut. Gnrnier and Major Blivdeo; of Baron Kiehtbufi'ii in
■J , ot the iii.t,>r(iiniii'- Mirpnry in 18t4; o( Cupt. Gill and the Gro-vmor
...l'...^L !■,!■•; ■ E. C, B.iberin 1877;ftndof A, It r.>i,i.itj.„iii m 1-<HI.
. I ' . ' iiiiirli valiiablo Inforniolion frniii thr I'j i \i- ii >i.i-.-.i<m h ii-<,
I '.■:;'Kllns. wliobavcludarortnra li<>ipii:i;.> I'n-i- m iiin.
rib-wesicm fronller of ilie (Jliiiji -c [n-.i-. uri' ..r s^u-
11, ■■■,1 iiiL, .'.,t .-11 I'liu iHbe. wbleli extends from abmU ^J' uuiUi luiiimle.
■ r'liwiird ibioujjli Til-ctau territory to liie Koko Nnr liasin, Tlielr nume,
iiii'li ii given Ilicm by ilie Chinese, means Western Porcisners: and
popular bo ief tbat tliey ore not of Chinese atock- Tbu word Is
her touiiely by muny writers; and is made lo include several irlbe*
.1 ri[ lo-'al names and languages, sucU ns Sokpa, Amdoan, Thut^bu,
mil Mnnynk.
-'iiirilieSl-faniu Ibemounlalnsoflhe western border, about the SOlh
■ rlie Man Tku, whom Iho Cldncse regard as ihe original aunli'r* of
! lo.iii e dFSsu Chunn nnd tbe bulldei^ of tbe cano dwellings nionjr the Mlu
i r Scarcely imvihins Is known In EnnipcaDs about ibo counliy or tbu
■ 'litnt o( thrsc two iriU*
.Vdjolninj tbe HnnTau. and extending down ihrousli souih weslcm Ssu-
1 a pop
820 TUE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN.
Chuan into Yunnan are Ibo Lolo. We are indebted to Mr. Baber for the
fullest account §i tbis tribe. Tbey are divided into two clans, one independent
and tbe otbcr subject to tbc Cliinesc, wbich are known to the Chinese as '*Black-
bones," and "White-bones," respectively. Tiie nviine Lolo ia also of Chinese
origin, while they cull themselves by various local designations as Losu, Ngosa,
Lesu, etc.
The TiOlo have a remarkably fine physique, being exceptionally tall, straight,
and muscular. Their features arc on the whole Mongolian, but not of tne
most pronounced type. A striking peculiarity of their appearance is tbc mode
of dressimr the hair. This is gathered in a knot over the forehead, and ao
twisted with cotton cloth as to form a horn, which projects in front, often to a
length of nine inches. To abandon the horn and adopt the pigtail is a siern of
subjection to the Chinese. A Lolo wedding has some novel features. First,
the bridegroom gives a feast to the bride ariH her friends for three successive
■days. On the wedding morning, while she and her attendants are lamenting,
with well-feigned grief, her approaching separ^ition from home, the male
relations and friends of the bridegroom suddenly rush in, and she is seized aod
carried off on the back of one of their number. The friends of the bride spring
to the rescue, — the men armed with flour or ashes, and the women with the
branches of prickly shrubs, which they do not hesitate to use with viaror. — Imt
she is quickly mounted on horseback, ?.nd the pursuit ends. The women of
thi.<* tribe are* treated with great consideration, sometimes being elevated even
to the headshio of the tribe. A stranger, traveling across Uieir countr}'. will
seldom suffer harm if he can secure a woman as guide.
The Lolo are not Buddhists, but profess a sort of Animistic faith. In
matters of property the y»)ungest succeeds to the estate, the eldest bein^
next m order. Their language is said to be harsh, abounding in gutturals
and consonantal sounds unfamiliar to European ears. They have a system
of writing, of which Mr. Baber procured a specimen; but it is said that ouh
the medicine men know how to use it. Chinese or Tibetan characters are in
more common use.
The Ll-ssu, Le-su, or Leesaw, as the name is variously written, are a trilw
found in north-western Yunnan. They are described bv Dr Anderson of the
Sladen expedition as being "a small hill-pcople. with fair, round, flat facfs,
high cheekbones, and some little obliquity of the eye." The name is evidently
not used with precision, since it is applied by other observers to people srtuaieii
elsewhere and of a more manly type. Their language is said to greatly re-
semble the Burmese.
In the same region is a kindred tribe, the IMoso, of whom we know veiy
little, save that their language is closclv related to that of the Li ssu. Tbey
have long been settled in this part of China, tor their name occurs hs cnrly w
790 A D., in the annals of the Tang dynasty, and in l2o3 A. D., when they
were conquered by Kublai Kliuu. Though nominallv subject to the Cbinese.
they retain cfmsidcrablu independence in their mountain home.
We have already referred (Vol. VIII, No. 8), to the fuiioussj'stem of writing,
of a hieroglyphic character, which seems once to have lH»en in "use amonf tbem.
There are other interesting tribes in Vunnan and north'^rn Burma, whicb we
shall describe at another time.
ETHNOLOGIC NOTJjiS.
BY ALBERT 8. GATSCUKT, WABniKOTON.
New ETiiNoanAPinc Magazine. ^Tbc administnition of the Royal Mttfeumj
of Berlin, Germany, has in 1885 started a now mairazim* in quarto, detfinw.
to comprehend offlcial and original communications of value, which froffl all
parts of the world may come into the possession of the ethnologic departmeol I
of that royul institution. W. Spemann is the publisher of the series, whicb up I
to the present embodies tliree numbers in 174 images, with illustrations-^ 1
portion of the numbers present catalogues of the objects exhibited or rrod«w
at the museum, which through the royal muDificeDCo and govonnneat
ETnNOGRAPHIC NOTES.
i in ulmosl infinite variety tsd
[or <it ilio (Icpurlmeat. has miilcri-
■n^r'i loihc most disuni part of ibe
i-ilnL' iDLiteiila ot tiia " On'ffinai-
:il1i ilir voy«g(-K of llio la't- Dr.
i;> riji'iii niivy ofliccrs un EAet«r
I I'l iiiv Ir-Unds. TliP collcctiooa
'r.i.ii-iic imttccB. Dr. Grllnwedol.
Uic PelfW IslHDdf. Dr. O. Fin
rnniiwiiy. Dr. Kr. Ufuis, (■'ill
I'.'HCt's. Wi-snumiis :u\i\ <]>■
liiiiliiu contrlliiitK
Ix'tl 111 llie lliu lex
!l iiiiptiirs lliftl
iir rnniiilidi) to
TiiilingTnpbic
Vun Du. Wji.ii. Lacseic 38
Zrn VitLKflCi-SDanEiiSiEDEKBriioGii Sachsb.v Klciiiere Sell rirn-n von
Joava HaLtricr. In m-u«r Ik-nibeiliiiif lirrniiscri^lH.'n von .). WollT,
" . C- Orncscr; Svii. ; XVI iind 58ri pp.
■ Crom llifl pivsi or Clmrlrp Oi'n«cr in Viption. who hnf publljluvi a long
.■ :m '..■,■.. I, , , : ■ ,,:■ M...i,n|;
■ . .: ■■ '.::.- :.: ,!i •(,. ,■...! ..I. I ■■ ■!.. 1 ..«,, hl.ihIm:.
■ :.ih..iis«.-.|k. Hinoli ikill- i-vclu^ivcly wiili tnlklr.in nf Ihc
' I'll iitiirTruiiBEvlviuiiu isJiiBPpli Uikliticli'» "2iir Vulkskundc
li'-i.-n,"piihlishe<t by C. Qrseser m remodeled shape. The
I I-" gcDcrnlly fruitful In pioductng tales sliniil imlmnls, nf
. I ilio wolf, sGpRrnie or broiigtit tngether into pannership.
: l.>vor(^d characlprs. Further ou. wo fiad shorter tfilcs upon
■piiUIly domcstic;upon the gypsies, (some of them quite
-i.vlc). IniiDts and hnnlcrings on the sundry classes In
i.ri', laWnnd Songs on orphan chitdrcn. n highly intcrtiStins
ii|iii(.iiiii)nfl and popular beliefs; proverbs, nestlier profaiostica*
_«. uatUs aud riddles in rtirious languages nud dbllecls. to wind up With a
h cnlleclloo of inscription* fnuDd on boii^c- walls, on eh u relics and church
~% on founlmnii. iniis, (>iiy bolls, impl^mcnls. regimeoiat flni^ and grave-
~% Uallrlcb's book is equally fuscinnling lo the consclcnlloilo. canful
It of all the popular muniroB'siloiis which Mc eompriso uni^et ibo name of
re, MiotfaecHsuul reuderwlioKekseDlerluinmoDtualr. for the wide rsnge
^ AnvdneHi of ihu iiuilinr'ii iiliaervliii; powers are equally wooderful as the
ly wit and wldu-slrplcbing invcntlou of the naive ruitilc* whom be describes,
nigmlion of llio '"Smou" element from Germany into Transaylvaaia
ilnly from tlie end ol Uie fourteenth century; ilhas been kept remarka-
yiolBOt from Uogyar and other foreign iulluencca.
E EcrADoit. ReisKDii.tiKIt vi)n JnsEpn Eoi.DERO. Britte Auflagej.
J im Ureisgau. Herder, publisher, 1683, 8vo. XVII and E
MCUU, etc,
I which prompted Joseph Rolbers to undertake his c
THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN.
323
Imveli 10 Ecuador musl have bpcnilie powerful seismic and volcunicphei
wbii'li am not cihibiteit anywhere el^e hv nature on a crnoder stvlu o[ comtti
nndim Ibun in I hat lofty South Amentn plateau. The book In no doitiAJJl
ueetitl and readahle one for fceneral and youthful renders, wliidi arcounl* ft
il8 being published io a third eili lion. But ihc undue extent wUidi U ''
lo the expianalloo or the earthquake and volcatJic dialurbnncea make
Bltnmt II schoolbook. tnr there is no end of geopentic thcorii'S and Ihou^ . .,^
Krapoundcd in it. Scienliflc readers will nUo mifa Ibe f;rcut denrtli uf poaiilTs
ictR compared to the exuberance of aentimenlnl thought nDd pbilnntbropio
tWHildle. TLero is very liiileiii the nicely lUusiralcd volunic that can be enllcd
new. and il any one seeks iofomialion about the Indians, he will find hu t
exiracls from former writers. Eolberg saw only the wesierti poriiou of tlio
couniTY and tlio native dement is nowadays almost rntirBly n!legat«d it thu
eauiern slope, which belongs to lb" drninagc basin of ibe Ama*»n. and exceed
inely uncomforlahle to travel over. Il must be acknowledgeil lliat lo apilo of
mauy deficiencica of the hook is free of sensptlionallatu, well Etylicixea and
graphic Bs to scenery described and the loddents wllncseed.
; 74 pp.
leEntsegnuDg tob D
pECIirKL-LoEscnK. Leipzig, I8B5.
Uerkn Stanlet's Partisamb und ueihg ormiBtA.Bs Bkricutk i .
EoKooi.ANDE. VoD Dr. Pkcuuel Loe^che. Leipzig; 1886, 8^0; ^ pp.
or a poluinic tendency are iwo German publications of the Gi^rman etbnalog
Pecliuel-Loesciie o:: Ibe subject of the possibility of setlllug Ibe Congo o
By order of the Congo colonization commitie(>, presided by Ihc King of Bel^
iitu. Dr. P, bds soJourDcd long enough in tliat diaiant region lo study «Ul|
featiirea. Id self-defunse against the aspersions and false represenlalioiu a.
by ^tunlev in his bonk and elticwhcrc, be declares lo bave been sliaiuefullT ire
on his mission to Afdca, and that tbe seltlmi; in those unlienllhy Un('~
never bave the sbudow of a success, though speHking only of (be c
around llie Stanley Pool. The colonists die oQ like slieep, tbere is di
menw worth speuking of, and hence (be railrond projected fr.jm tUi
norib of tbe mouth of the Congo wilt never pay. The report of Ilie Amerfcd^.
commi^oncr about Congo, Ur. Tisdeli, nbo boldly discourugea emignntaM
setllu there, bo ejidorses in every regard. ,
Berker c&ronik ton VAi.BuiuaAsaa&LM. Bern K. J Wyss, publisher.
Vol, I. 18S4. Vol. 11.1886. _
Valerius Anshelm is the name of a Swiss bislorioErapher who lived conta
temporani'ously wi lb Luther. By orderof ibeBemeeegovemmeiithecnnipa
a cbronicle of great historic value, which embodies all Ibe events of B«ra
end Swiss history from thr wars against Duke Charles tbe Butd of BurgL_
which liegan in 1474. down to the iniroduclion of ecclesiastical reform B
Swltxcriand and further on to the year 153S. Anshelm's stvle is lively. preciM
«nd to Ibe point; be is animntcd by civic patriotism and an en'busiast for the
glory of his "fatbcrlaiid." He lakes a much deeper view of the world's hisloiy
than the majority of chronlclere of the blsepoch; sometimes he traces tbe causei
of political events lo Tursey, Arabia and other far distant countnes. The hi<-
torlc society of Beme has just uudcrlaken the republicatiou of this remarka-
ble wortt and intends to complete it ut four iosutmenis. two of tbem having
already appeared. Tbe publicatioo is in chanre of Lilrariau E Bloescb, who bu
Willi dcilful hands explained in fool-notes all Ihc oImcutc patsages and hist
alltisioos made by Anshelm. and in this manner bas made Uie book usefv
■«Tery instructed pereon. whereas wilboul bis coiumcnlj ii.auy atctions wot.
lock that clvaniess which we expect to find in tbe works of every bblarian. i
L
BOOK REVIEWS. 323
BOOK REVIEWS.
Transactions of tite Wisconsin Acfidemy of Sciences, Arts, and Letters. Vol. VI,
1881-83. MadisoQ. 1886.
The appearance of the Transactions after a period of four years is a welcome
thing. The delay, however, seems unnecessary. A society which has a State
treasury back of it to pay for the publication of its papers, oug;ht to be efficient
enough to get out a report oftener than once in four years.
There are three articles in the volume on Archneoloiry ; two by Dr. P R.
Hoy. — one, **Who Built 'he Mounds?" the other. "Who Made the Copper
Tools?" read December 27, 1882; and one by Rev. S. D. Pect on 'Ancient
Villages among the Emblematic Mounds," read' December 7, 1883. Two arti-
cles on Ethnology, as follows: "The Primitive Democracy of the Germans,'*
by W. F. Allen, and the other "On the Relation of Greek Art and Religion,"
by Prof. J. Emerson.
Proceedings of t?ic Atnerican Philosophical ^Society, July, 1886.
This Report contains, among other articles, the followinor on Indian Languag-
es; Vocabulary of the Selisli Lan^ruage, by W. J. lloftman; Vocabulary of
the Wuiishunini Dialect of the Kaivia Language, by ditto. Also on the
Beathuuk Indians, by Albert S. Gatschet.
These Indians appear to liave been inhabitants of Newfoundland. Analogies
between the language and other Algonquin dialects is dr'iwn by the writer.
It is mamtained that the language is not either Greenlander. Eskimo. Iroquois,
Tinne, luuit and contains very little resemblance to the Micmak Abeniki. or
any other dialect of the Algonquin. Mr. Gatschet maintaius that it belonged
to a separate linguistic family.
An Account of Various Silver and Copper Medals, Presented to the North American
Indians by the Sovereigns of England. P^rance and Spain, from 1600 to 1800.
Read before the Wyoming Historical and Geological Society, Sept. 12, J 885.
By Rey. Horace Edwin IIaydicn. Reprmted from Part 2. Vol II, of the
Proceedings of ihe Society. Published at Wilkesbarre, Pa. ; 1886. Pamphlet.
26 pp.
We owe a debt of gratitude to Mr. Hayden for this monograph, as it brings
before us some important facts in reference to the Indians- One rather start-
ling statement is made. "The Indian thought his allegiance was limited
simply to the time during which he permitted the silver disc to be on his breast,
and that when he parted with it, or lost it, his allegiance was ended.
It is in a measure true, for in 1812, when the English demanded of the
Ojibways the surrender of a George Washington medal, a chief said: "English-
men, I shall Dot give up this medal of my own will If you wish to take it from
me, you are 3tronger than I am, but I tell you it is a mere bauble. It is only an
emblem of the heart which l)eat8 in my bosom, to cut out which, you must tirst
kill me."
During the civil war, the U. S. Indian agents wire ordered to search among
the tribes for foreign medals, demand their surrender, and give American
medals in their stead.
Historical Lecture on the IJfe of Our Lord Jesus Christ, with notes, critical,
historical and explanatory; By C. J. Ellicott, D. D. Published by War-
ren F. Draper, Andover. Mass. ; 1881 ; 382 pages.
TJie Scripture Doctrine of tJie Person of Christ, by J. A. Reubelt, D. D.
Published by Warren F. Draper, Andover, Mass. ; 1876. 456 pages.
Messianic Prophecy and The Life of Christ, by William L. Kennedy. Pub-
lished by Warren F. Draper, Andover, Mass. ; 1860. 484 pages.
The Kingdom ofChrist on Earth. Twelve Lectures delivered before the Stu-
dents of the Theological Seminary, Andover, by Samuel Harris, Dwight
Professor of Systematic Theology in Yale College. Published by request
of the students. Warren F. Draper, Andover. Mass. ; 1874. 255 pages.
The doctrino of Christ as a divine being finds advocates enough. The
324 THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN.
profoundest thinkers and the best theological scholars in the world have
been engaged upon it, and the large majority seem to be perfectly satis-
fied. The variety of thought and the suggest! veness as to themes which
arises from the study is perfectly marvelous. There is no barrenness in
that field. If we compare it witli the fields occupied by other systems it is
like a garden of roses on a hillside; a green oasis which refreshes the weary
traveler in a desert of sand There is no end to the products which arise
upon this field. It would be useless for us to undertake to review these books
separately, but they furnish fresh and reliable material to the person who wants
to enter into the study of comparative religions, as they give the different
phases of the doctrine of Christ. The prophetical, the scriptural or expository,
the historical and the philosophical. Each author takes a different standpoint
and looks at the statue and draws inspiration from it and then pronounces the
person divine. There is not the effect of Greek fine art in this view, but there
is something more inspiring, as the real rather than the ideal is brought before
the mind's eye. The lovers of art think they recognize divinity in t!he statues
of AppoUo, of AtUeac, of Zeu<4. but the substance after all is human and the
divinity is a shadow. In Christ humanity seems to be the shadow and divinity
the substance. If any one wants to be convinced of this point let him turn
from the books that treat about other religions to books like these which bring
forth deep things of the Chnsliau religion, and he wdl see the difference.
"Drink deep or tasle not of the Pierian Spring." If the authors such aslnman,
Richard Payne Koij^ht, Jennin<rs. Forlong, and others of the Rosicrucians
.<;cIiool who have treated of the symbols of ancient faiths and have brought out
treatises on the phallic symbols, serpent worship, would turn away from the
cesspool into which they are burrowing and honestly investigate the doctrine of
Christ, they would ceiUiinly find something that is purer and better than that
which paganism offers. The phallic symbol may Le recognized by them among
the modern ornaiDentations, and possibly there may bo a survival of pagan
customs in the ritualism of that church. But certainly protestantism contains
very little which suggests such vulgar associations. One who enters into the
true spirit of Christianit}- is disturbed by no thought as to such being the source
of the Chris! ian religion.
It is a forced conclusion and one that is unl)ccoming intelligent and pure
minded Arcba?ologists. The Theosophists who have undertaken to establish a
school m recent times are not sucessful. They have given no satisfactory
system and have fallen out among themselves. Notwithstanding the differences
which exist between . Christian denominations, all agree on the divinity of
Christ . Book after book is written upon the subject and yet it is not exhausted.
Mr. W. F. Draper has made a specialty of publishing upon this subject, and
the works issued from his press are all valuable for the student who desires to
go over the subject again in the light of latest contributions, these works will
be of great service. They are standard works although of recent origin.
i
THE
mj^xxcmi J^txtiqtxmam
Vol. VIII. November, 1886. No. 6.
THE APACHE- YUMAS AND APACHE-MOJAVES.
SECOND PAPER.
Basket-making consumes a great deal of the time of the women.
Besides the baskets for their own use, they manufacture some
for trade, as there is always a demand for them among other
tribes, and of late they find a ready sale for them among the
whites. Two patterns, of various sizes, are made, cone-shaped
ones, and those having the form of a bowl. The former are easily
and quickly woven, and are usually ornamented with one or two
red bands. The largest hold about two bushels, and the smallest,
which are for little girls, who begin at an early age to carry
burdens, about a quart. They are borne on the back, suspended
like the water-jugs, from the head by means of a band, the apex
resting on the belt of the kilt. They are used in harvesting seeds
and to carry burdens of every description, as fire-wood, their
household goods in moving camp, their children, the aged, and
the sick and wpunded. On the removal of the tribes in 1875
from the Rio Verde to the San Carlos Agency, a distance of
about one hundred and fifty miles, by a trail which led over rough
mountains and across swollen streams, nearly all their effects,
many of their children, the old, and the sick were carried in these
baskets. They traveled on an average eight miles and a half a
day. The men shared the labor with the women, and one old
man demonstrated that conjugal affection is fully as strong
among the Indians as in civilized life, by carrying his decrepit
wife the whole distance in a basket on his back. The round,
shallow, bowl-shaped baskets are made water tight, and require
patient and skilful labor to weave them. Various designs in
black, as straight, broken, waved and zigzag lines, and steps or
lerraces woven into them with strips from the cat's claw — the inner
|)art of the j[)od of d martynia, which, wheii dry, is black. They
m THE AMEHlCAlf AimQtTARHir' ^
also arc made of various sizes, from small ones used as drinldii
cups, to those of sixteen or seventeen inches in diameter, wbii
are used to parch seed in, mix their brt^ad, etc.
As to their food, they consume with a relish many thin
that a more fastidious palate would reject. They devour ra
coyotes, hzards and cattcrpi liars, and prefer mule and horse mc;
to beef, but will not eat wild turkeys and some other fowl, noi
fish.* The women procure the vegetable, and the men thi
animal portion of the diet
In the fall the women has
vest tile seeds of a varid]
of plants, and cache a po
tion for winter's use. Tl
seeds of grasses and heri
aceous plants arc gathcn
by shaking them into t"*
conical baskets. A few
the A-Yumas former
raised small patches
maize ti-yaUk, and laid I
A little for winter. Tin
, parch the seeds by tossii
I them up with coaU
shallow basket for a tirfl
then sprinkle them
water and grind tliem
meal, which when rollc
kirilo balls constitutes tbd
Sbread tni-d-ta. This whc
■made of the seeds of th
Vaguara or giant cact
J(Cereus'giganieus,engeIui
■Indian ah-a'k. is csteemi
a delicac>*. The ripe p
*'"■'" B ""•"^> of the mczquit (AlganA
glandulosa. T. and G.) Indian n'a-la, are also ground and ntM
into bre.-td. To grind the seeds they make usr of two stoac^
the mctatc ha-pl. and the rubbing stone ha-fi-cha, both of blade
I.iva usually. The mclale is flat, and about eighteen inches k _
and eight inches wide, It rests on the ground, inclined all
slight angle, and the woman sits with it between her outstretdie*
legs. The nibbing stone is roiint!. and ,ibo-.it ?i>: incJiCi? f™^
and three inches ttiick. The i.
gives it .1 rolling motion furxv.i
or American aloe (Ag.i\-e An.
food the year round. It is {<:•<.;-
of hi^h b ills and on h^h lUe^:^ -
THK iPAOHK-TUMAS AND APACHE-MOJAVEB. 8BT
m loose and stony soil. When a supply is required, the women
i^o in charge of some of the men, or the whole party moves to the
mescal fields, and sufficient is cut and bal<ed to last seveial
*ceks- They select plants that are at least eighteen inches high
and cut them close to the ground, then trim ofi"thc projecting ends
(if the leaves, so that each plant forms a large ball composed of
llie thick bases of the leaves, and the crown on which they are
crowded. They then carry them in their baskets to a suitable
,i[)Ot in a ravine or canon where they dig a pit. or if an old one
be in the neighborhood, as is frequently the case, they resort to it.
The earth taken out is banked up to deepen the pit, which varies
ill size from three to ten feet in diameter, and from two to four
feet deep, according to the number in the party. A large fire is
built in it, on which are thrown basketfuls of stones, When these
lire hoi the mescal is piled on them in the form of a pyramid,
and covered with grass and earth. It is allowed to remain
undisturbed about forty-eight hours, the women watching the
pit in order to repair occasional breaks in the covering. When
the mescal is baked, the pit is opened, and each woman takes out
her own, which she recognizes by her private mark. The plants
in baking shrink and turn brown, The fibres, which are coarse
in the leaves and fine in the crown, become tougher, but the
fleshy part is converted into a sweet juicy pulp. Those which
I ire not to be used soon are torn to pieces and spread on sticks
lin large cakes, which, when dry, are rolled up for convenience in
:arr>'ing. When kept for some time they become hard and
ough, and require soaking in water before they can be eaten,
kifcscal- water, made by dissolving the pulp in water, is a favorite
leverage, and constitutes the exclusive diet of the sick. It
Kqucntly acts as a purge, and when dysentery or diarrhoea
xists oflen aggravates the disease. If the plant is not well
boked, or if too young, it produces the same effect. The stalk,
which the plant sends up at maturity to the height of fifteen feet
r more in a few weeks, is when young, often broken off and
ateti raw, or after it has been roasted in an open fire. The fruit
bf the opuntia, called prickly pear or tuna, Ind, /ti-ia, is for
■veral weeks after it ripens in September their principal diet,
•od sometimes in the absence of other food, is eaten in such large
niantities as to cause bowel complaints. They are very fond of
lie fruit of the Spanish bayonet (Yucca baccata, Torn) Mexican
" Imia ancha or Amole, Ind, vc-nal, commonly called "dates" by
5 whites, which ripens in October. It resembles the banana in
iiape and taste. Camas, the bulb of the wild hyacinth (Caniassia
f^culenta, Lindl.) Ind. a-nya-ka: the seeds of the gourd or mock
inge (Cucurbita perennis. Gray.) Mex, Chili cojcjte and Cala-
izilla, Ind. a-ha-mah; acorns, Ind, i-hi-itii-a; walnuts, \nd.jud-ka;
Ine nuts, Mex. pinons, Ind. ti-koh. wild garlic, wild potatoes, the
iUDg stalk of the thistle, rose pips, currants and juniper berries
128 THE i.MERICAN ANTIQUARIAN.
tre also eaten in their season. In the spring a white
sugary substance called honey-dew is frequently found on the
leaves and young stems of a species of willow quite common
along Date creek. They break off the branches and stir them
in water to dissolve the honey dew, and make a refreshing drink.
No intoxicating beverage is made by them. The only word they
have in their language to express drunkenness is wassibatofni,
crazy. The customary drink in winter is hot water. They raise
small patches of a species of tobacco, which is smoked mostly
by the medicine-men, who always inhale the smoke. Before
they went to the Verde Agency very few of the men were
habitual smokers, and none of them chewed tobacco.
Their meat was principally rats, ma-le-ke; hare, ku4e; and
cotton-tail rabbits, he-lo, which are numerous and can easily be
captured or killed. All the men and boys frequently engage in the
sport of a rat huftt. They arm themselves with rat-sticks, which
have a crook at one end, and go about among the rocks and
bushes poking into the holes and hauling out the rats. Occasion-
ally a rat gets out of his hole and essays to escape, when they all
run yelling after the fugitive, flinging their sticks or striking at him,
and often tripping up and tumbling over one another. As fast as
they kill them, they tuck them under their belts, and often at
the close of the hunt each one has a belt full dangling about his
waist. In hunting rabbits a line is formed and the bushes are
beaten to drive them out, and they are shot with bows and
arrows, or canes or boomerangs are flung at them to break their
legs. Before cooking the rabbits they skin and draw them, but
roast the rats without doing either, simply making an incision
in the abdomen. When they boil them they take off the skin
but leave the entrails. Doves, ducks, geese and swan are rarely
eaten, but their eggs are relished when boiled.
Before they had firearms large game was not easily killed, but
when the hunters were successful there was a feast. Some
strategy has to be exercised to get within arrow-shot of deer,
kwa-ka; antelope, mu-td, and mountain sheep, inu-u. In hunting
deer they use as a decoy a head covering or mask, mu-hu, made
of the skin and antlers from a buck's head. The skin is dried in
proper shape and the back of the antlers cut away to make them
lighter. A hoop which fits the hunter's head keeps the neck in
shape. The mask is put upon the head like a hat, and held by
means of strings tied under the chin. A deer skin is thrown around
the shoulders, and the man is enabled in this disguise to approach
within bow-shot of a deer by bending forward and imitating the
motions of one when grazing, or he shows himself above the
brow of a hill, or from behind a rock, Antelope heads are
prepared and used in the same manner to hunt that aninMJ,
Sometimes the men form a line and drive the deer into a nac
valley where they surround and shoot them as they tiy to
THT APACBK-TDUAS AIDD APAOHB-MOJATEB. S9Q
' No part of the deer or antelope is discarded. The fu;tus is a
dainty morsel .ind the intestines choice parts, which the hunters
usually feast upon at once. The head is baked in a pit upon
heated stones. It is put in at night and taken out the next
morning ready to be eaten. The rest of the meat is usually
boiled in the earthen pots, but is often broiled on the coals.
Bones arc broken, and alt the marrow is carefully extracted.
I They are very much attached to all of their children, but treat the
lys with marked respect. Tlie latter are often [jravcly consulted
li their advice accepted as if they were men. The women are
I a rule kindly treated. The)majority of themcn have one wife,
pt some of the older ones have two wives, having taken the
330 THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIyN.
second before the wars with the whites, which were more fatal
to the women than to the men. Separation rarely occurs after a
woman has borne children. On the Verde Reservation the men
outnumbered the women, and the scarcity of the latter led to
prostitution, the young men appropriating the widows. They
also stole women from theTont6s and Apaches for the purpose of
debauching them, wrestling with one another for the precedence.
The women assume the duties of wives at about the age of
fifteen. The marriage form is a very simple one, the man, after
coming to an understanding with the girl, makes her parents a
present, usually a buckskin or two, to obtain their consent, then
goes and lives with her, becoming a member of her family. Very
rarely a girl is given away without her consent, when if she is
not docile, she is beaten and forced to the bidding of her
husband.
For two years in succession I observed that in August and
September the women solicited the attentions of the men, and an
unusual number of couples were seen with their heads hidden in
a blanket caressing each other. The majority of the children
were born in the spring.
The woman assumes a squatting posture during labor,* and is
assisted by an old woman, who squats behind her and makes
steady gentle compression with hands clasped over thci abdomen,
following the uterus down, or, if labor be difficult, exerting
considerable force to expel the foetus, or raising and shaking the
woman up and down. The cord is cut about one inch from the
child's body and tied with a string. After her deliver>', the
woman draws a roll of buckskin snugly around her waist, attires
herself in a new buckskin skirt, and resumes her ordinary duties.
Her diet is restricted to soup and mescal-water for three or four
days, or until the first milk, which is thought not to be good for
the child, has been rubbed out of the breast. They are occasion-
ally afflicted with inflamed breasts, as is indicated by the custom
of holding the breasts over a hot stone and pressing some of the
milk out to fall upon it. They say that a woman once neglected
to take this precaution, and her breasts become very sore,
and had at length to be cut open with a sharp stone by a
medicine-man to let out the pus. The A-Zuma mothers for
several months bind on the infant's breast-bone a buckskin
bag, from two and a half to three inches square, filled with
earth, and are frequently seen pressing in the bone with
their hands. They all pierce their children's ears, using for the
l)urposc a sharp fire-hardened piece of wood. The reason for
these customs they are unable to give.
Children are usually quite large before they are named, and
often fully grown, and until they are known as xr-ft' (one), or a^
•'rhiM i% also the posture taken by all Indians while mictaiatwip
THE APACBE-T
UASi
BJAVES.
t the girl or boy of a certain man. Adults do not always know
the names by which others designate them, or else are ashamed
to tell. ;ls frequently a man when askcid his name will turn to a
bystander and ask him to tell it. The names are usually descriptive
of physical or mental peculiarities, or notable acts of the persons
to whom they are applied. Occasionally a man gives himself a
name. One name may cling to an individual through life, but
usually he acquires a new one for every striking deed he performs.
After a new one is received the old one is often forgotten.
A collection of the names of a man sometimes constitutes a
sketch of his life.
The head of eadi family formerly governed his immediate
relatives in patriarchal style, being guided by the medicine-men
in important matters. After their subjection, the tribes were
divided into bands, and a chief was appointed over each, but it
was only by force that the people were broughfto recognize the
authority given to these men. Permanent war-chiefs were not
known, but whenever a number of families united in an e.\pcdition
they followed some man who had proved himself brave, or had met
with success on a former occasion. Mcdicine-nien accom))anied
them to advise them and incite them to deeds of bravery, but
did not themselves take part in the fights. The parties usually
went out to revenge the death of a relative, male or female, and
Kthus fulfill what they considered a sacred duty. They depended
LVpon surprise and superior numbers for success. Their attacks
"ere made early in the morning while the enemy were sleeping,
r they lay in ambu.sh and dashed suddenly upon them in order
oiat they might get clo.se enough to use their favorite weapon,
ihe club. They resorted to the bow and arrow when unable to
rrive at close quarters. At Date Creek and the Verde Agency
iny of them carried flint-lock and other old muskets which
iey procured in trade from the Navajosand Moquis. They kill
^11 men and grown boys, taking only women and children prisoners
md sometimes in retaliation killing these also. They sometimes
mutilate the dead, but never take scalps. See cut.
The war-club is the shape of the beetle commonly used by
'ood-choppcrs. It i.-! made of a piece of mezquit wood, and is
lOUt fourteen inches long, the head usually being painted black
md the handle red. Their bow is made of willow or mezquit
indthc string of twisted sinew. The length is about four feet
lut varies according to the height of the individual using it.
"hey have two kinds of arrows, those made of cane a-ta, pointed
lirith a piece of hard wood, to be used in hunting small game,
jnd those made of the stem of the arrow bush ha-ta-wil, pointed
}t^th stone or iron heads, to be used in hunting large game, and
'i war. The arrow-head is set in a shallow notch at the end of
Be shaft and held in place by means of a thin shred of sinew
ind in the form of a figure 8. As long as the sinew remains
TEE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN.
dry, the head is secure, but if wet, it soon becomes soft, and ft
this reason efforts made to withdraw an arrow from a wound
almost invariably result in the detachment of the shaft, and the
loss of the head in the wound. The plume is about six inches
long and is put on spirally, the three pieces of which it is formed
making one-fourth of a turn around the shank. They poisoned
their war-arrows in the following manner: The skinned and
dried head of a rattlesnake was powdered on a stone and mixed
with clotted blood, salt, and a liquid squeezed from large red
ants, or the ants themselves dried and powdered. After this
mixture has been allowed to stand for a time, it was carefully
smeared on the arrow-heads with a piece of buck-skin, and in
order to distinguish them from arrows not treated in this manner^
they were dipped into a stinking liquid obtained by crushii
certain leaves.
Nearly every family has its shaman or medtcine-man who
belongs to an order, the members of which are regarded with
veneration and awe. on account of their supposed intimacy with
supernatural beings. They have unbounded influence over the
people through the superstitions which they impart to them.
They are selected from the males above the age of fifteen by the
spirits, they say, who frequently manifest their choice in strange
ways. A young man was once pointed out to me as one who
was probably in communication with the spirits, and would
become a medicine-man, as he sometimes bled from the mouth,
and was in the habit of wandering off by himself It was said
that once after an absence of some days in midwinter he returned
with an unfamiliar flower, which he must have brought from a
distant and warmer countr>-. I afterward saw him in a fainting
fit, caused by hemorrhage from the lungs, for which they would
allow nothing to be done, as he was thought to be in communion
with the spirits. The medicine-men profess to be on familiar
terms with the spirits, each one having his twin or familiar, whose
assistance he procures to enable him to counteract the influence
of evil and less powerful spirits, When a spirit has selected a
man, it appears to him in a dream, and attaches Itself to him as
his counsellor and guide. It conducts him on a long journey
east through the spirit land, in order to initiate him into its
mysteries. This journey consumed several nights, the spirit
returning night after night, providing the man be found
worthy, to continue it until completed. His faith, secrecy,
and endurance are tested on these occasions. Soon after
they start, a great mountain intercepts them, and those meet
him who endeavor to turn him back by telling him that
the journey is a perilous one, and that the mountain is too
high for him to cross, and he cannot go through it, as it is solid
rock, but the spirit encourages him and informs him it is only
earth and he can go through it. If he has (aith in what the
ler^H
THE APACHE-YUMA8 AND APACHE MOJAVES. 38S
spirit tells him, and makes the attempt, he easily penetrate? the
mountain. Beyond it they have to cross eight parallel rivers.
They then enter a delightful country, the abode of spirits, who
occupy houses which face the rising sun. Farther "on he visits
the beautiful and silent woman, who lives
alone in a round white house, the roof of
which is formed of the rainbow, and the
^ door faces the east and sparkles under
^ ft the rays of the rising sun. Here he sees
< l\ many beautiful rattles and is taught the
ic: |\ g use of them. He at length reaches sunrise
_ and beholds the all-wise and truthful spirit
|i- ^ 5 Se-vta-che who dwells there.* From him
he learns how to cure pain, heal wounds,
make charms, etc. The man is bound .to
secrecy until he reaches sunrise, when his
journey ends, and he is at liberty to pro-
claim himself a medicine man ovfa-semache.
After this his familiar visits him only when
^ he invokes its aid in chants, accompanied
■ ^.^.^ by the rattling of a gourd containing some
^ f >^ pebbles. The smoking of certain weeds
— J ) constitutes an important part of the invoca-
• / y tion.
\r ^^ All the medicine-men meet occasionally
^ and with considerable ceremony "make med-
2 icine." They went through this performance
^ early in the summer of 1874 at the Rio
Verde Agency, for the purpose of averting
the diseases with which the people had
been afflicted the summer previous. In
the middle of one of the villages they
erected a ramada, or brush hut, some ten
feet in diameter, and under it, on the sand,
illustrated the spirit land in a picture about
seven feet across, made in colors by sprink-
ling powdered leaves, grass, red clay,
charcoal, and ashes on the smooth sand.
' \J A In the centre was a round red spot, about
^ *"'*'^^ — ^^ ten inches in diameter, and around it sev-
eral successive rings, alternately green and
Domestic utcnsiu. red, cach onc being an inch and a half wide.
From the outer one radiated four somewhat triangular shaped
figures, each corresponding to one of the cardinal points, giving
the whole the appearance of a Maltese cross. Around this cross
and between its arms were the figures of men. their feet toward
♦They have an ornament, made by fastening together base to b:i<c two tal<>n>; from the h.iwk or
^ajgle, whidi is symbolical of Semat'.hc, the sun-ris-j p>d, or the sun. Slx- « iit on pa^c jjj.
834 THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN.
the center, some made of charcoal with ashes for eyes and hair,
others of red clay and ashes, etc. These figures were eight
or nine inches long, and nearly all of them lacked some portion
of the body, as an arm, or leg, or head. The medicine-men
seated themselves on the ground in a circle around the picture
and the Indians of the different bands crowded about them, the
old men squatting close by and the young ones standing back
of them. After they had invoked the aid of the spirits, in a
number of chants, one of their number — apparently the oldest — a
toothless, gray-haired man, solemnly arose, and carefully stepping
between the figures of the men, dropped on all except three of
them, a pinch of yellow powder which he took from a small
buckskin bag handed to him by one of the others. He put
the powder on the head, chest, or other part of the body,
one of the other men sometimes telling him where to put
it. After going all around, he put up the bag and then went
around again and took from each figure a large pinch of powder,
including some of the yellow, utitil he had collected a heaping
handful. He then stepped back and each of the other medicine
men collected a handful in the same manner. Some of the
laymen, in their eagerness to get some of the consecrated powder,
pressed forward, but they were ordered back. When all the
medicine-men had supplied themselves, the ramada was torn
down and a rush was made by men and boys, who grabbed
handfuls of the powder and rubbed it or their bodies or carried
it away. The women and children, who were waiting for an
invitation, were then called. They crowded to the spot, and
grabbing handfuls of the powder, tossed it up in the air and stood
under it as it fell, or they rubbed their bodies with it, mothers
throwing it over their children and rubbing it on their heads.
This ended the performance. The medicine-men afterward made
and sold small crosses containing some of the powder. Each
cross was formed of two pieces of wild cane about two inches
long, wrapped with red and blue yarn, and tied together.
They attributed diseases and injuries to the influence of evil
spirits, who work their mischief on the men through the women^
They rarely prescribe medicines, but deal largely in charms-^
When these do not appear to to be efficacious, the medicine-mar»^
sings over the sick or wounded, keeping time with his rattle, tc^^
summon his familiar. He stops to rest now and then, smoking^
in the intervals. He frequently sings all night, and sometimej^
for several nights in succession. Occasionally an assistant makc^^
responses. Should the patient be a man the result of the incanta^ —
tions is that some woman, usually that of an unfaithful wife or
prostitute, is charq^ed with having bewitched him, and the on(
so charged is tied to a tree by the relatives of the patient,
await the result of the case. If he should die she is stoned
death, 'to learn whethel* or not a fiatietlt will tecover-
THE A PACHE-YUMAS AND APACHE-MOJAVES. 335
medicine-man says he swallows a live coal and then ejects it into
the air; if still alive when it falls to the ground, the patient will
recover, if black he will die. Or he swallows a pipe which has
been. filled with tobacco and lighted. It works out of his body,
usually from an arm or a leg, and if white, the prognosis is good,
but if colored, it is bad.
A sick man may be recognized by the buckskin string which
he ties around an arm or a leg, but oftenest around the latter
just below the knee,;to prevent his strength from running out.
They were free from venereal affections until a band of Indians
under Chemehueivi Sal were sent to the Agency from the
Colorado river in 1874. The women had been debauched by
the whites on the river, and were nearly all infected. In a few
months after their arrival venereal diseases had become prevalent,
and since then have proved a scourge to these tribes.
They suck arrow and gun shot wounds as soon as possible
after their infliction, and believe that the latter like the former are
poisoned. They afterward blow into them as an antidote a red
powder, which is said to be obtained from the root of a plant
that grows in the red-rock country near the Verde river. When
much swelling and pain occur, they make scarifications around
the wound and suck them. I have seen extensive emphysema
of the neck and upper part of the chest produced by suction in
a case of wound of the summit of the chest.* The friends of a
wounded man invariably smear some of his blood upon them-
selves. Their sick and wounded are transported upon their
backs in the cone-shaped baskets* They make use of dry earth
3s a dressing for running sores, which they completely cover
vith it in order to absorb all discharges, and the women introduce
large plugs of clay into the vagina for discharges from it.
Scarification is practiced for the relief of pain, and there is
^scarcely an Indian but has scars on his body remaining from the
operation. In the case of a woman who was suffering with
severe pain in her right thigh, the operation was performed as
follows : After she had tied a deer skin snugly around the
upper part of her thigh, and seated herself upon the ground
xvith the leg flexed under the thigh, the medicine man chose a
^harp .flake of quartz from a number of pieces he had with him,
^xnd. beginning at the upper part of the thigh made eight or ten
shallow cuts about one-third of an inch to an inch and a half in
length alid about one-third of an inch apart. He then, with the
<:>uter edge of his hand and a smooth stick, brushed off* the blood
^xs it oozed in drops from the cuts, and blew mouthfuls of water
i 11 a spray upon them until they ceased to bleed, when he made
rxiore cuts lower down and treated them in a similar manner. He
*The Tonto Apaches, when wounded, wear a buckskin shirt bearing various painted figures, or
around the waist the figure of a lizard cut out of buckskin.
836 THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN.
continued to scarify until he had made over one hundred cuts,
and drawn about six fluid ounces of blood.
For slight cuts and bruises they lay a piece of the dried skin
of the Gila monster upon a coal of fire and hold the injured part
in the smoke arising from it. A fractured limb is placed in a
splint made of numerous slender sticks, which are tied together
in a row and then bound around the limb. They suck rattle-
snake bites, and apply a powder of some kind as an antidote,
but do not claim it is a specific, admitting that the bite some-
times proves fatal.
They make use of numerous charms, some of which are to
render them invulnerable in war, and others to insure success
in hunting, gambling, and affairs of love. The fangs of the
rattlesnake ward off arrows and bullets. Before engaging in a
game of chance the hands are scratched with them, and they
are sometimes introduced into the pole with which their favorite
game of turebi is played. Great secrecy is observed in using
them, to prevent the use of a countercharm by the other side.
A bezoar from the stomach of a deer gives the possessor of it
good luck in hunting, and happy is the hunter who finds one.
Crosses and the rattles of the rattlesnake are tied to a lock of the
hair to prevent and cure pain in the head. Little wooden figures
representing men, are worn by many tied to the belt. Quartz
crystals give good luck. All green stones possess peculiar
virtues, and are treasured by the medicine-men. Many of the
people make beads of various roots to string around the neck
and eat when sick.
The Apache-Mojaves sometimes resort to the Tonto medicine
men to receive the rattlesnake treatment for the relief of pain.
At the Agency one day, the rattling of a snake attracted my
attention, and on approaching a group of Indians from which
the sound seemed to proceeds, I found a medicine-man squatting
down holding a large rattlesnake in his right hand, the thumb
and index of which encircled it close to its head, while he gently
stroked its back with his left. Presently an old man advancec
to him, and, saying he had pain in his head, squatted on th*
ground. The medicine-man arose, and, placing himself behinc
his patient, coiled the snake around his head, and, whtie holding
it there, uttered a gutteral chant, occasionally causing the snak*
to vibrate its rattles. He then quickly uncoiled the snake an«
swung it head foremost away from the man's head, at the sam«
time making the sound wisht. The man then pointed to his rigta
arm, and th2 medicine-man laid the snake along the limb, it:
head resting on the head. He chanted again, caused it to rattU
and swung it away as before. The old man arose and with
satisfied air walked away. Other patients succeeded him to ' "
the snake laid on various parts of the body. After t
medicine-man rested the snake on the ground i
THE APACHE-YUMA8 AND APACHE-M0JAVE8.
887
V-u-v-
in
retaining his hold of it with his right hand, put a pinch of yellow
pollen into its mouth with his left, and rubbed some along its belly.
He then held his hand out to a man, who took a pinch of the
powder and rubbed it on the crown of a boy's head. Yellow
^ pollen treated in this manner is a common
remedy for headache, and may frequently
be seen on the crown of the head of men
and boys.
The medicine-men are consulted for the
purpose of recovering lost or stolen proper-
ty. A Yavape Indian related to me how
one of them found for him a blanket that
- ,. .^ had been stolen from his uwah. He first
.5'*^ J presented the man with a buckskin, then
described the blanket, told him where he
had left it, and on what night it was taken.
The man went to sleep in order to question
his familiar. He had instructed three
Indians that when he clapped his hands
^ Q they must hold him to the ground, with his
O o arms extended at right angles with his
^ -^ iL z '^^^^y* s^ ^^^^ when the spirit came it could
"" not carry him off. They did as he directed,
and when he awoke he said that the blanket
had been pulled out of the back of the uwah
by a man who buried it in a hole which
he had dug in his own uwah, and left it
there until the following night, when he
dug it up and went in a round aboutway
to a certain tree quite a distance off, in
which he hid it among the branches.
The Indian went to the tree indicated and
in it found his blanket.
The dead are disposed of by cremation.
The body is laid upon some sticks of wood,
and enough piled upon it to consume it.
Ashes and a few small pieces of calcined
bone are all that remain on the site of the
fire. If the death occurs in a hut. the fire
is built inside, and the hut, together with
^ everything in it, is burned along with the
Apache Religious Emblems, body. When a death is anticipated the
precaution is sometimes taken to remove valuable articles, not
usually those of Indian manufacture however, but only such as
have been procured from the whites. If there is no relatives to
carry the wood for a pyre, the body is left where death occurred.
Bodies left in this mannner dry up and become mummafied.
They buried the body of a man in the ground at the Verde
a:
o
® y —
X ^^ z
^ in -
• 5
< z w
5 = 1
^ m Z
-^ I °
338 THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN.
Agency when ordered by their agent to do so, but they did it
under protest. They dislike very much to touch, or even go
near a corpse, and especially if the death has been caused by
disease. As soon as death is announced, all the huts in the
immediate neighborhood are deserted, and often burned. For
several weeks afterward the female relatives of the deceased wail
at intervals, sitting on the ground with their heads bowed
between their knees rocking themselves back and forth, and
whenever they meet any one they break forth into lamentations.
Men cut their hair short as a sign of mourning. It is believed
that the spirits of the dead wander about at night, and the dread
of encountering them is so great that no one willingly walks
abroad after dark, but if compelled to go carries a torch or sings
in a loud voice. They dislike to speak of the dead, and will not
mention his name, but refer to him indirectly and usually in a
whisper.
They do not endure physical pain any better, if as well, as the
whites. Great or continuous pain renders them stupid, and
oftentimes delirious, and. the stolidity with which Indians in
general are credited is not well maintained by them under small
surgical operations, the one of tooth extracting almost always
eliciting a groan or a yell. The expression of their faces cannot
always be seen on account of paint and their long hair, but when
not concealed by these, the changes induced by the emotions
may readily be detected; anger is almost always betrayed by the
expression of the eyes; fear by the dirty grayish color the skin
assumes ; surprise by suddenly drawing in a breath as if gasping,
and sometimes also by covering the mouth with one one hand.
They rarely point with the finger, but raise the chin and pout
the lips toward the object. In beckoning to a person to approach
they raise a hand with the palm forward, high up when the
person is far off, and then swing it forward and downward.
The medicine-men say that the earth is flat, round and station-
ary. Below it there is another region similar to it in all respects.
The sun has a diurnal motion. In . the morning it rises from
just below the earth, crosses over to the west, sinks a little below
the earth, and then makes its vvay norlh and around to the east
again. The moon stands still, but all of the stars move. Many
of the latter have names, and some of them have myths connected
with them. The three stars of the second magnitude in Orion's
belt( * * *) are called mn-^u or mountain sheep, formerly they
were further apart, and the middle one (E) was the hindermost,
but having been shot at by the hunter, who with his dog is
chasing them, he jumped over the one (T) that was then in the
middle. The hunter, the dog, and the arrow are constellations
in the neighborhood of Orion. Their year begins at the seed-
gathering time in September, and they count the moons o**^
the next seed-time.
I
I - ♦■ *' \
THE TIBETO-BCRMAN GROUP OF LAJ^GUAGES. 339
Yavapes tell of a wonderful spring in the red-rock country on
the Verde river north of Fort Verde, near which they once lived.
It wells up into a basin worn in the solid rock, beneath a chimney
like opening which extends through the whole thickness of a high
overhanging rock. A spirit guards it, and withdraws the water
whenever he hears a human being approach. Any one who
wishes to obtain water from it must steal up and dip quickly
so as to take the water-spirit by surprise, otherwise the water will
sink out of sight. If during a drouth any one wishes to produce
rain and can succeed in getting some of the water, and throwing
it to a certain point high up on the rock the clouds will surely
gather soon and rain begin to fall.
Wm. M. Corbusier, M. D., U. S. A.
THE TIBETO-BURMAN GROUP OF LANGUAGES.
SECOND PAPER.
Proceeding eastward from the kingdom of Nepal, which has
detained us hitherto, we come to the little Alpine State of Sik-
kim, where we find the aboriginal tribe calling themselves Rong,
but better known by the name of Lepcha. As we have already
seen, the Lepchas are acquainted with writing ; but the manner
of its introduction is not known. A portion of the scriptures has
been translated into their tongue, and a grammar was published
by Col. Main waring in 1876. The Lepcha alphabet is, like the
Indian, syllabic, and contains 5 1 simple characters. Seven of
these are vowel-signs, and forty-four present consonants, nine
of which stand for the only letters occurring as finals. Some of
the characters stand for sounds unrepresented in the Indian al-
phabet — as f, ts, and z ; others represent a combination of sounds
— as kl, gl, pi, fl, etc. Only the vowels and eight consonants,
viz. k, ng, t, n, p, m, r, and 1, can end a word. The cerebrals
and sonant aspirates are wanting, as was pointed out of the Tib-
etan» and is true generally of languages of the same kindred.
The Lepcha is monosyllabic only in the sense that its uncom-
pounded roots consist of a single syllable. Dissyllabic and a few'
trisyllabic words occur, but their composite character is easily
discerned. Gender is not indicated by grammatical suffixes, but
by special sexual terms, or by added words signifying 'male' or
'female.' These last are different for human beings and for in-
ferior animals, and with the latter they var>' somewhat with the
genus of the object.
The numbers arc recognized, of which the dual and plural
denoted by the suffixes, but only when the number is not
by the context. The dual suffix is clearly related to the ni
340 THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN.
"two." There are two plural endings, one being commonly
applied to human beings, and the other to the inferior animals
and inanimate objects. Nouns assume certain syllables to ex-
press relation. These are in part words which have an indepen-
dent status in other connections, and may be classed as postpo-
sitions ; and arc in part fragments of such words, reduced to
servile use. An adjective following its substantive takes the
endings instead of the latter being declined.
Pronouns take the same endings as nouns, the first person
plural making no distinction of inclusive and exclusive forms.
A possessive pronoun is formed by using a slightly modified
form of the genitive of the personal pronoun as a base, to which
are appended the ordinary endings of declension. The lan-
guage is said to have a relative pronoun, which also appears to
have an interrogative sense. The verb belongs to the non-pro-
nominalizing order, making no distinction of number or person.
By the use of added syllables, most of which are in reality auxil-
iary verbs, the ordinary distinctions of tense are expressed, and
in a rude way those of mode. There is no proper passive voice,
but either the construction is avoided, or an expression is used
which signifies the arriving at an action; thus, "he is come to a beat-
ing" instead "he is beaten." In some of the Tibeto-Burman
and So. Indian languages the negative is expressed by a form of
conjugation. In Lepcha a negative participle both precedes
and follows the verb. Lepcha Syntax is of course very simple.
The subject stands first and the verb last. Pronouns and adjec-
tives, including the words employed as articles, follow their
substantives. The genitive of the personal pronoun, however,
used as a possessive, together with limiting substantives in gen-
eral, precedes the limited word.
Directly east of the Lepchas are the Bhutanese whose language,
being a dialect of Tibetan, requires no further description. We
have now come to the border of Assam ; but before following
the highlands into that province, we will descend to the foot of
the hills, where in the malarial swamps and on the plains are
found several of the most populous and widely-spread tribes of
aborigines in this part of India. They are the Koch, the Bodo or
Kachari, and the Dhimal. Though they prefer the sal forests of
of the Terai, where they lead a nomadic life, they are also found
scattered over the plains of Assam, and as far south as the district
of Kachar, near the border of Burma, In this situation they are
intimately mixed with the Hindus, and have adopted their reli-
gion and social customs. The primitive language of the Koch
has nearly disappeared, being replaced by corrupt Bengali. The
languages of the Dhimal and Kachari have maintained them-
selves better, and we are able to get some insight into their
structure through the researches of Mr. Hodgson. lu their
general features they closely resemble the Lepcha. Gc»
THE TIBETO-BURMAN GROUP OP LANGUAGES. 841
indicated and nouns are declined in a similar manner. The def-
inite and indefinite article is expressed by the demonstrative
pronoun and the numeral 'one.' Only two numbers are recognized,
with faint traces of a dual in Dhimal. Adjectives precede or fol-
low their substantives. Comparison is effected in the manner
usually in this group of languages, namely, the object with which
comparison is made takes an inflected form — a genitive or dative
— and is followed by a particle corresponding to our *than'; thus,
**that good than this" expresses ** this is better than that," and
"all good than this " stands for *'this is best of all." An indige-
nous relative pronoun can hardly be said to exist. The genitive
of the personal pronoun seems to denote possession. The Kach-
ari has native names for the cardinal numerals only to seven,
and the Dhimal only to ten. To express higher numbers Hindu
terms are borrowed. The verb in Kachari is of the simple type,
but in Dhimal there is an approach to pronominalization, con-
sisting in a repetition of the personal pronoun after the verb ;
this, however, is confined to the first and second person. Tense
is expressed in Dhimal by the appendage of auxiliary verbs to an
unvarying root. This is effected in Kachari in the same manner,
but WMth the addition of certain suffixes. Negation in connec-
tion with the imperative mode is expressed by a negative adverb,
but in the other parts of the verb the Kachari inserts a negative
particle between the root and tense-suffix, by which it becomes a
form of conjugation. This is the first time we have met what is
called the "negative voice" by some writers. The sintax of these
languages is simple and loosely constructed. The verb usually
stands at the end of the sentence. Much use is made of parti-
ciples in place of relative and other subordinate clauses.
Returning, now, to the hills, and pursuing our way eastward,
we find a series of tribes whose languages are supposed to be-
long in this group, but about which we have little information,
save what can be derived from brief vocabularies.
They are, in their order from west to east, the Akas,
Dophlas, Miris, Abors, and Mishmis. The verb in these lan-
guages is of the simple type. The Dophla, Mini, and Abor
languages show signs of closer relationship to one another
than to the others in the list. They are characterized by the
use of a single consonant, instead of a syllable, to express the
accusative and genitive relation, and by the frequent prefixion
of a vowel where it does not occur with the same words in the
other languages. The most easterly of the tribes named brings
us to the farthest limits of Assam, and to the borders of Bur-
ma, where we find the Singphos, another ot these kindred tribes,
who have only recently made settlement in British territory, and
who, under the name Kakhyen, extend across upper Burma
into the western part of the Chinese province of Yunan. The
Singpho verb is of the simple type. A prefixed nasal serves as
342 THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN.
a negative with verbs and a determinative with nouns. In vo-
cabulary the Singpho is largely coincident with Burmese. In
the same region, and intimately mingled with the Singphos, are
the Khamtis, likewise a tribe ot new-comers ; but they speak a
monosyllabic tongue, with which we have no present concern.
At this point we touch the ground of the second most impor-
tant member of the group under review ; but we will reserve its
description until we shall have exhausted the list of minor lan-
guages in the same and adjoining territory.
Following westward the trend of the mountains which form
the southern border of the Assam valley, we find ourselves in
the somewhat extensive territory of the Naga tribes, .which may
be said to cover the highlands between the 93d and 97th de-
grees of east longitude.
This people — if, indeed, they can be called one people — is still
in a savage condition. Incessant intertribal feuds have divided
them into innumerable hostile sections, and favored the multi-
plication of dialects. In is estimated by those who know the
Nagas best that not less than 30 dialects represent the diversities
of their speech. No grammar is yet forthcoming; but brief vo-
cabularies of several of the dialects have been collected by Rev.
N. Brown and others, and within a year the Gospels by Matthew
and John have been translated into the speech of the Ao-Naga
tribe. We may hope, with the help of this, bOon to get a better
insight into the structure of the language. There is no doubt
that this group of dialects — or languages, as we perhaps ought
to call them — belongs within the larger Tibeto-Burman group.
The structure of the verb is nearly everywhere of the simple
type ; though in the Namsary dialect it is peculiar in having
endings of person but not of number, and in denoting past time
by a letter affixed, and future time by a letter prefixed. It also
has a proper possessive pronoun, not using in place of it the
genitive of the personal pronoun, as do most of the Tibeto-Bur-
man languages. Adjoining the Nagas on the west are the Mikirs,
whose vocabulary has much in common with the Namsary-Naga,
though their verb is not of the complex type.
Passing on westward we come to the Khasis and Jynteas,
whose language differs so greatly in structure and vocabulary
from surrounding tongues that it has been provisionally set in a
class by itself, and need not detain us here. The last tribe of this
border range is the Garos. We are able to judge of their lan-
guage by a rather defective, but useful, grammar prepared by
Rev. T. J. Keith, and by portions of the Bible translated into their
idiom. The Garo finds its nearest kindred in the Kachari, of
which we have already spoken ; the Deori Chutia, a fragment of
the speech of the ancient conquerors of Upper Assam; the Pani-
Koch, spoken by a little settlement of the distant tribe that Wf
fell in with in the forests of northern Bengal; and the 1
THE TIBETO-BURMAN GROUP OP LANGUAGES. 848
•
whose home is on the Chittagong hills. To describe the Garo
in detail would be to recapitulate much that we have said before.
It has no dual; a plural suffix is used when the number is not
made clear by the context; substantives followed by numeral
adjectives take, besides, generic particles, varying according to
the object represented. Nouns and pronouns take the same
declensional endings. Possessive and relative pronouns are
wanting, except that the Bengali relative pronoun is occasionally
borrowed. The first personal pronoun has in the plural an ex-
clusive and inclusive form. Comparison is effected in the manner
already described, the object with which comparison is made
bein^ in the dative case. The verb makes no distinction of
number or person, except the imperative, which has a second
and third person. The adverbial modifiers which some languages
prefix to verbs and others affix are in Garo infixed between the
root and tense- suffix. This is not a common usage in this group
of languages, but there are traces of it in Kachari. The language
can fairly express action in relation to it3 time and progress, but
is poorly supplied with mode-forms. Instead of the last, inde-
pended verbs are for the most part employed. An interesting
verb-form denoting a supposition contrary to fact is sometimes
used. It is formed by adding to the root the united suffixes of
the future and rennote past. The first seems to convey the idea
of something not yet a fact, merely conceived of; by adding to this
the second suffix the conception is removed to the past, and its
unrealizable character is symbolized. The order of the elements
of the sentence is wholly like that more than once described.
South of the Assam hills are found numerous langua^^es and
dialects which have the characteristics of the Tibeto-Burman
group; but most of them are as yet little known. The Manipuri,
spoken in the valley south of the Angami-Naga country, is the
only one of the number that can boast of any cultivation. It has
written characters, derived from India, and some literature
inspired from the same source. Besides vocabularies, we have
grammatical notes on this language by the late Capt. Darnant.
West and south of the Manipuri are the Kuki and Khyeng
tribes. Major Fryer has given us a brief gramatical sketch of
Khyeng speech, which has some interesting peculiarities. Gender
is denoted by added words for *'male" and "female,'* which differ
somewhat according to the nature of the object. Three numbers
are recognized, but they are distinguished only with nouns and
pronouns. Three cases — genitive, dative, ablative — are formed
by suffixes; but the genitive-ending is commonly omitted, and
the relation is indicated solely by the position, the limiting before
the limited substantive. The pronouns have full and abbreviated
forms, the latter being used as prefixes or suffixes. The Khyeng
verb is of the complex type, and a striking feature of it, which it
shares with Kuki, is that the signs of person and number are
844 THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN.
prefixed, instead of affixed, as is usual. Tenses, on the other
hand are formed by added syllables. Modes are supplied by the
use of independent verbs. There are so-called participles denoting
present and past time, but they are in the genitive and the dative
case respectively, and seem to be understood as verbal nouns.
A negative conjugation is formed by omitting the pronominal
prefix and replacing it by a negative letter, or by in-
serting the same between root and tense-ending, or by both
at once. A similar mode of expressing negation is employed in
Manipuri and the Kuki dialects. Little can be said at present
of the Kumi, Mru, Banjogi, Shendu, and other tongues spoken in
the mountains forming the back-bone of the peninsula. From
specimens that we have, it appears that prefixed letters are much
used as determinatives, and that the verb is of the simple type.
In Kumi, suffixes are employed to denote sex, which are nearly
identical with those sometimes so-used in Tibetan.
The Karen dialects of British Burma are placed in this group
by some writers, but by others are classed with the Siamese and
other isolating languages. In fact, they have some of the features
of both groups. Like the latter, they make great use of tones,
and place the verb before its object. They resemble the former
in vocabulary and in the position of the limiting before the limited
substantive — a position the reverse of that usual in Mon-Anam
speech. The verb is not inflected for number or person. Pro-
nouns of the first and second person precede the verb, and that
of the the third person follows. So, case-particles precede the
noun. Only vowels or a nassal occur as finals.
The last language to be mentioned in this group, and the only
one which compares with the Tibetan in literary cultivation is
the Burmese, Its written characters and an important part of its
vocabulary were borrowed from India. It is spoken over the
greater part of British and Independent Burma, and has several
dialects, of which the Arakanese is alone importapt. The Burmese
alphabetic system is syllabic, each consonant having an inherent
a-vowel, and it contains characters for sounds which do not
belong to the language, but have come in with Pali words and
the Buddhist religion. These are the cerebral row of consonants
and the sonant aspirates.
Burmese has fewer silent letters than Tibetan, but its pro-
nunciation has departed widely from its written form. This
consists largely in the assimilation, without change of spelling,
of the final and initial letters of such loose compounds as occur;
thus, keng'kaiv is pronounced keng-gaw; tsa-pa, tsa-ba; man-gyi,
mag-gyi; iheng-baw, ihem-baiv. Much more is made of tones
in Burmese than in Tibetan, the latter employing instead deter-
minative syllables. The relations of substantives to other words
in the sintence are expressed by added elements, some tA
which have sunk to the condition of true suffixes, and others rf"
THE TIBETO-BURMAN GROUP OF LANGUAGES. 845
preserve an independent character. An evidence of the loose
attachment of these signs of dependence is their frequent absence
when the sense can be determined without them. Adjectives
usually follow, but may precede, their substantives. With
numeral adjectives much use is made of generic particles. The
Burmese verb takes tense-endings, and one of number — often
omitted — but no personal endings. The place of the verb is at
the end of the sentence.
We have now completed our survey of the languages of the
Tibeto-Burman group, and have found them to be very numer-
ous — how numerous, cannot, with our present knowledge, be
stated with precision. Mr. Cast enumerates 71 languages and 81
dialects, exclusive of the China group — that is, the speech of ab-
original tribes, in Yunan, of whom we know very little, — and his
Island group, which we do ^lot propose to include in our list;
but such statements must be regarded as only approximations to
the truth. So many of the Himalayan and indo-Chinese tribes
are living in a savage and isolated condition that the degree, and,
in some cases, even the fact of their relationship is still a matter
of dispute. What are now regarded as dialects may be promoted
to the dignity of languages, and what are called languages may
be reduced to the rank of dialects. It only remains to gather
into more compendious'form the facts that we have been able to
observe, and to compare them a little more fully than we have
yet done with corresponding usages in neighboring groups of
speech.
1. We have noted that the Tibeto-Burman alphabets want the
Indian cerebrals and sonant-aspirates, except so far as they have
been introduced in writing with foreign words, and in that case
they do not retain their original pronunciation. Both classes of
sounds are found in the Santal, a Kolarian languge of Central
India,and in the Telugu,Canarese,and Malayalin of theDravidian
family — though chiefly in Sanskit derivatives. The Tamil has
discarded aspirants.
2. These langages are not so dependent upon position to ex-
press the relations of words in a sentence as are the languages
lying on their eastern border. Besides proper suffixes, preposi-
tional words, derived from houns and other parts of speech, are
much used, and regularly follow the words which they limit.
3. Pronouns have the same declensions as nouns. A proper
possessive pronoun has been developed from the genitive of the
personal pronoun in a few instances, but generally the simple
genitive serves in its place. So, the Santal inflects the genitive
of the personal pronoun, while its near kindred the Kol uses it
without inflection. Inclusive and exclusive forms of the plural or
dual of the ist personal pronoun occur here, as in Central and
Southern India. The absence of the relative pronoun as an
346 THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN.
original possession in these languages is also a feature in which
they coincide with Kalarian and Dravidian speech.
4. The Tibeto-Burman languages do not distinguish so clearly
as we are accustomed to do between verbs and nouns. Where
we use a verb-form they oftener employ a verbal noun with a
copula expressed or understood and the agent in the instrumen-
tal case. In a majority of the idioms there is no distinction of
number or person in the verb ; a few make it in part, and the
Kiranti alone has it complete. Tense is generally denoted by
suffixes, rarely by prefixes or change of root-vowel. A nega-
tive conjugation like that in the Dravidian verb occurs in several
languages, but negation is also expressed by a separate particle
used as an adverb.
5. There is a customary order of words in the Tibeto— Burman
sentence, but it admits of some variation. The subject stands
first and the verb last. The adjective commonly follows the
substantive, taking the endings of declension ; or may precede it,
in which case it seems to be regarded as a noun of quality, tak-
ing in Tibetan the genitive suffix. The last is the ordinary posi-
tion of a limiting noun. The same rules of position are observed
in the Kolarian and Dravidian languages, except that the ad-
jective precedes the substantive. The Chinese agrees with the
Tibeto-Burman languages in placing the limiting before the lim-
ited substantive, while the Mon-Anam languages of Indo-China
reverse the order. Another point of difference is that the isolat-
ing tongues agree in placing the verb before the object instead
of at the end of the sentence. The Chinese puts the adjective
before the substantive when it is used attributively, but the Tib-
eto-Burman and Mon-Anam groups place it after. From this
it is evident that the order of words in a sentence is not of itself
sufficient to determine genetic relationship.
Thus far in our inquiries we have not alluded to an important
source of evidence regarding special affinities existing between
the members of the group, and between the group as a whole
and neighboring idioms — we refer to that derived from a com-
parison of roots. But, instructive and enticing as the investiga-
tion would be, it would unduly extend the limits of this paper,
and we must content ourselves at present with the partial survey
that has been made.
John Avery.
Brunswick, Me., July 4, 1885.
THE GRAPHIC SYSTEM OF THE MAYAS. 347
THE PHONETIC ELEMENTS IN THE GRAPHIC
SYSTEM OF THE MAYAS AND MEXICANS.*
All who have read the wonderful story of the Spanish conquest
of Mexico and Central America will remember that the European
invaders came upon various nations who were well acquainted with
some method of writing, who were skilled in the manufacture of
parchment and paper, and who filled thousands of volumes
formed of these materials with the records of their history, the
theories of their sciences, and the traditions of their theologies.
Aiming at greater permanence than these perishable materials
would offer, they also inscribed on plinths of stone, on slabs of
hard wood, and on terra cotta tablets, the designs and figures
which in the system they adopted served to convey the ideas
they wished to transmit to posterity.
In spite of the deliberate and wholesale destruction of these
records at the conquest, and their complete neglect for centuries
afterwards, there still remains enough, were they collected, to
form a respectably large Corpus Inscriptionum Amcricanariim,
Within the present century many Mexican and Maya MSS.
have for the first time been published, and the inscriptions on
on the temples of southern Mexico and Yucatan have been
brought to the tables of students by photography and casts,
methods which permit no doubt as to their faithfulness.
Nor have there been lacking diligent students who have availed
themselves of these facilities to search for the lost key to these
mysterious records. It is a pleasure to mention, the names of
Thomas and H olden in the United States, of De Rosny, Aubin
and dc Charencey in France, of Forestmann and Schellhas in
Germany, of Ramirez and Orozco in Mexico. But it must
frankly be confessed that the results obtained by all of these
have been inadequate and unsatisfactory. We have not yet
passed the threshhold of investigation.
The question which forces itself upon our attention as de-
manding a reply at the very outset is whether the Aztec and
Maya systems of writing were or were not, in whole or in part
phonetic systems? Did they appeal, in the first instance, to the
meaning of the word, or to the sound o{\hQ word? If to the latter,
if, in other words, they were phonetic, orevea partially phonetic,
then it is vain to attempt any interpretation of these records
without a preliminary study of the languages of the nations who
*Kc:i<l before tlic Aiithr<^{>4il(>;^u ;il Scttiun of ihe American AwxialioB for the Advancement of
Science, ul liulTalu, Aii.^, ibt>o.
84S THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN.
were the writers. These languages must moreover be studied
in the form in which they were spoken at the period of the con-
quest, and the course of native thought as expressed in the
primitive grammatical structure must be understood and taken
into account. I hasten to add that we have abundant materials
for such studies.
This essential preliminary question, as to the extent of the
phonetic element in the Mexican and Maya systems of writing,
is that which I propose to put at present, and to answer it, so far
as may be. Hitherto, the greatest diversity of opinion about it
has prevailed. Some able writes, such as Valentini and Holden,
have questioned the existence of any phonetic elements;
but most have been willing to concede that there are such
present, though the quantity and quality are by no means
clearly defined.
We may assume that both systems under consideration are
partly ideographic. Every system of phonetic writing introduces
ideograms to some extent, our own among the number. The
question is, to what extent.
But before we are prepared to answer question, about the
extent of the phonetic element, we must seek to ascertain its
character. We arc all aware that a phonetic symbol may ex-
press the sound either of a whole word of several syllables, or
of a single syllable, or of a simple acoustic element. Again, a
single phonetic symbol may express several quite diverse sounds,
as is familiarly exemplified in the first letter of the English alpha-
bet which represents three very different sounds ; and, on the
other hand, we may find three, four or more symbols, no wise
alike in form or origin, bearing one and the same phonetic value,
a fact especially familiar to Egyptologists.
We must further bear in mind that the arrangement to the
eye of phonetic symbols is altogether arbitrary. Because a pre-
fix is pronounced first in the order of time and a suffix last, it by
no means follows that the order in space of their corresponding
symbols shall bear any analogous relation. The idea awakened
by the sound of the word is a whole, and one, and so that this
sound is represented, the disposition of its component parts, is,
philosophically speaking, indifferent. When it is remembered
that in most American languages, and notably in the Mexican
or Nahuatl, there is a tendency to consolidate each phrase into
a single word, the importance of this consideration is greatly
increased.
As the position of the phonetic parts of the phrase-word
may thus be disregarded, yet more indifferent is the order of
sequence of the symbols. There is no a priori reason why this
should be from left to right as in English, or from right to left
as in Hebrew; alternately, as in the Boustrophedon of *"
Greek, or from top to bottom as in Chinese.
THE GRAPHIC SYSTEM OF THE MAYAS. 849
In such an examination as the present one, we must rid our
minds of the expectation of finding the phonetic elements in
some familiar form, and simply ask, whether they are to be found
in any form.
We are not without a trustworthy guide in this quest. It is
agreed among those who have most carefully studied the subject
that there is but one path by which the human mind could have
originally proceeded from picture-writing or thought-writing, to
phonetic or sound-writing. This was through the existence of
homophones and homoiophones in a language, of words with
the same or similar sounds, but with diverse significations. The
deliberate analysis of a language back to its phonetic elements,
and the construction upon those of a series of symbols, as was
accomplished for the Cherokee by the half-breed Sequoyah, has
ever been the product of culture, not a process of primitive
evolution.
In this primitive process the sounds which were most frequent-
ly repeated, or were otherwise most prominent to the ear would
be those first represented by a figure ; and the same figure would
come to be employed as an equivalent for this sound and others
closely akin to it, even when they had other connections and
bore other significations. Hence aflfixes, suflfixes, monosyllabic
words, and accented syllables of polysyllabic words, are those to
which we must look as offering the earliest evidences of a con-
nection of figure with sound.
According to the theory here very briefly indicated, I shall
examine the Maya and Nahuatl systems of writing to ascertain if
they present any phonetic elements and of what nature these
are.
Turning first to the Maya, I may in passing refer to the disap-
pointment which resulted from the publication of Landa's alpha-
bet by thfe Abbe Brasseur in 1864. Here was what seemed a
complete phonetic alphabet, which should at once unlock the
mysteries of the inscriptions on the temples of Yucatan and
Chiapas and enable us to interpret the script of the Dresden and
other Codices. Experience proved the utter fallacy of any such
hope. Prof Valentini has even condemned Landa s alphabet as a
Spanish fabrication. But the Bishop must be declared innocent
of such an intention. His work is no key to the Maya script;
but it does indicate that the Maya scribes were able to assign a
character to a sound, even a sound so meaningless as that of a
single letter.
The failure of the Landa alphabet was complete, and left
many scholars total skeptics as to the phonetic values of any of
the Maya characters. To name a conspicuous and recent exam-
ple. Prof Leon de Rosny, in his edition of the Codex Cortesianus,
published in 1883, appends a V^ocabulary of the hieratic signs as
S50
THE AMERICAN AHTIQUARUN.
far as known; but does not include among them any phonetic
signs other than Landa's.
But if we turn to the most recent and closest students of these
records, we find among them a consensus of opinion that a certain
degree, though a small degree, of phoneticism must be accepted.
Thus our own able i epresentative in this branch, ProC Cyrus
Thomas, announced in 1882, in his Study of (he MS. Troam*
that several of the day and month characters are, beyond doubt,
to a certain extent phonetic.
Prof. Forstemann, of Dresden, whose work on the Dresden
Codex has appeared within the present year, announces his con-
clusion that the Maya script is essentially ideographic ;t but
immediately adds the numerous small figures attached to the
main sign are to be considered phonetic, and no matter in what
local relation to this main sign they stand, they are, to be re-
garded either as prefixes or suffixes of the word. He does not
attempt to work out their possible meaning, but, as he says,
leaves that to the future.
Almost identical is the conclusion of Dr. Schellhas, whose
essay on the Dresden Co-
dexl has also appeared
within the present year.
His final decision is in
these words: "The Maya
writing is ideographic in
principle, and probably
avails itself in order to com-
plete its ideographic hiero-
glyphs of a number of fixed
phonetic signs."
Some of these signs have
been so carefully scrutin-
ized that their phonetic val-
ue may be considered to
have been determined with
reasonable certainty. An
interesting example is
shown on Fig. i. for the
analysis of which we are in-
debted to Dr. Schellhas. FLg.,-Th.M.T»H«™,lyphofA,r.™m«nt
The quadrilateral figure at the top represents the firmament. One
of the squares into which it is divided portrays the sky in the
day time, the other, the starry sky at night. Beneath each arc
white and black objects, signifying the clouds, from which falling
rain is indicated by long '^igzag lines. Between the clouds 00
TKE GRAPHir 9T8TEH OF THE MATA9. Ml
the left of the fij;urf is the well-Wnown ideogram nf the sun, on
the right that of lite moon. Iii the Maja language the siin is
called Jt:ii, the moon «. and these figures arc found elsewhere,
not indicating these celestial bodies, but merely the phonetic
values the one of the syllabic ^/«. the other of the letter//. The
L,two signs given in Landa's alphabet for the letter « are really
Beoe, separated in transcription, and a variant of the figure for the
^bnoon with the wavy line beneath it. Tlic word » in Maya is the
^K ^^^ possessive adjective of the third
^^k^^"^ person, and as such is employed
^V **^ I ■ ■ in conjugating verbs, the Maya ver-
^B ^^ I y*^ I I ^ bal being really a possessive.
' ' ' 1 A very common terminal sylla-
blcin Maya is ('/. It is called by
I ^v H— ■ ~ I grammarians "the determinative
^B ^^ J^ I i J ending." and is employed lo indi-
^B j0,^^^ cate the genitive and ablative rela-
^V~ tions. Dr. Schellhas considers that
^* ^— ...^ this is represented by the signs
' ^ "^ ^ affixed to the main hieroglyphs
shown on Fig. 2.*
The upper figure he reads kin-
il, the low-cr cim-il. The two signs
are the title to a picture in the Co-
de.\ Troano representing a storm
\
with destruction of human life.
The two words kin-il dm //maybe
translated "At the time of the kill-
ing." The syllable dm is express-
ed in several variants in the Cod-
ices, examples of two of which,
from the Dresden Codex are prc-
SL'iited in Fig. 3,
The signs for ihe four cardinal
ji lints appear to be expressed pho-
netically. They are represented in
Figs 4 and 5. The words are for
North. j<i///ii//. East, lakiii. South.
\ Hohil. West, dnkin. Of the.se the
rilabl: kin appears in lakin and
jfttjifff and is represented as above
Bcribed. The word for North r.g i-M>y= ii>.nricT«n,nn].,
» not been analysed; that for South has been translated by
•IKt MiiyiJuiKl-Khnft, «e,. p, «/.
852
THE AIHERICAN ANTIQUARIAN.
Prof. Londe Rosny as ma ya, the word ma meaning hands or
arms, the lower as either a fruit or the masculine sign, in either
case the phonetic value being alone intended. Both the name
and the etymology are, however, doubtful, resting upon late and
imperfect authorities.
By pursuing the plan here indicated, that is, by assuming that
a figure whose representative value is known, has also a merely
North.
South.
East. West.
Figs. 4 and 5— Signs of the Cardinal Points in Maya.
phonetic value in other combinations, a certain number of pho-
netic elements of the Maya tongue have been identified. Prof.
Cyrus Thomas, in an article published in March of the present
year, states that he has "interpreted satisfactorily to himself
twelve or fifteen compound characters which appear to be pho-
netic."*
It is obvious, however, that small progress has been made in
this direction compared to the labor expended. By far the
greater number of the fixed symbols of the Maya are yet unde-
ciphercd. It is acknowledged by all recent students that they
cannot be representative, as they recur too frequently. To ex-
plain them, there is but one sure course, and that is, by a close
analysis of the Maya language to get at the relations of ideas in
the native mind as expressed in their own phonetic system.
When we turn to the Mexican system of writing, muct
"'American Antiqnarian, March, 1886.
•■ %
THE GRAPIC SYSTEM OF THE MAYAS. 853
definite and extensive information as to its phonetic elements
awaits us. It is possible that at bottom it has really no higher
phonetic character, but several facts have combined to give us a
better understanding of its structure. In the first place, more ex-
amples of it have been preserved, some of these with more or less
accurate translations. Again, the earlier writers, those whom we
look upon as our historical authorities, have been more explicit
and ample in their description of Mexican native literature than
of that of Yucatan. Finally, and most important, the Mexican
language, the NahuatI, was studied at an early date and with
surprising thoroughness, by the Catholic priests. Within a
generation after the conquest they had completed a quite ac-
curate analysis of its grammatical structure, and had printed
a Nahuatl-Spanish dictionary containing more words than are
to be found in any English dictionary for a century later.
These intelligent missionaries acquainted themselves with the
principles of the Mexican script, and to a limited extent made
use of it in their religious instructions, as did also the Spanish
scriveners in their legal documents in transactions with the na-
tives. They found the native phonetic writing partly syllabic and
partly alphabetic; and it was easy for the priests to devise a
wholly alphabetic script en the same plan. An interesting ex-
ample of this is preserved in the work of Valades, entitled Rhc-
torica Cliristiana, written about 1570. Familiar objects are repre-
.sented, chiefly of European introduction. Kich has the phonetic
value only of the first letter of its NahuatI name. The plan
is extremely simple and indeed the forms and names of
the Hebrew letters seem to indicate that they arose in
the same way. Applying it to English, we should spell
the word cat by a picture of a chair, of an axe, and of a table,
each of these being the recognized symbol of its first phonetic
element or initial letter. Often any one of several objects whose
names began with the same letter could be used, at choice.
This is also illustrated in Valades* alphabet, where, for instance,
the letter E is represented by four different objects.
As I have observed, the native genius had not arrived at a
complete analysis of the phonetic elements of the language ; but it
was distinctly progressing in that direction. Of the five vowels and
fourteen consonants which make up the NahuatI alphabet, three
vowels certainly, and probably three consonants had reached the
stage where they were often expressed as simple letters by the
method above described. The vowels were a, for which the sign
was atl, water; e represented by a bean, €tl\ and ^ by a footprint,
or path otli\ the consonants were /, represented either by a flag,
pan, or a mat, petl\ /, by a stone tetl, or the lips, tcntli\ and^, by a
lancet, zo. These are, however, exceptions. Most of the NahuatI
phonetics were syllabic, sometimes one, sometimes two syllables
of the name of the object being employed. When the whole
S54 THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAK.
name of an object or most of it was used as a phonetic value,
the script remains truly phonetic, but becomes of the nature of a
rebus, and this is the character of most of the phonetic Mexican
writing.
Every one is familiar with the principle of the rebus. It is
where a phrase is represented by pictures of objects whose
names bear some resemblence in sound to the words employed.
A stock example is that of the gallant who to testify his devo-
tion to the lady of his heart whose name was Rose Hill, had
embroidered on his gown the pic-
tures of a rose, a hill, an eye, a
loaf of bread, and a wftll, which
was to be interpreted, "Rose Hill,
I love well."
In medieval heraldry this system
was in extensive use. Armorial
bearings were selected, the names
of the elements of which expressed
that of the family who bore them.
Thus Pops Adrian IV whose name
was Nicolas Breakespeare, carried
the device of a sp:;ar with a broken
shaft; the Britons of England wear
arms representing a cask or Inn
pierced by a cross-bow shaft or
doll; etc. Such arms were called
cilH//>?f arms, the term being derived
from the Latin cantare. to sing or
chant, the arms themselves chant-
ing or announcing the family sur-
name.
We have, so far as I am aware,
no scientific term to express this
matter of phonetic writing, and I
propose for it therefore the adjeciive
ikonomaiic. from the Greek eikon,
a figure or image, and onoma (gen-
itive, oitonijtlos) name, — a writing by
means of the names of the figures
FiE. 6-Mc«i.nn Phnntiic Hierogi/phici O"" linages represented. The cor-
ofihciLimcQfMomaumi. responding noun would be itonoim-
tography. It differs radically from picture-writing {RUderschrift.)
for although it is composed of pictures, these were used solely
with reference to the sound of their names, not their objective
signficancc.
The Mexicans in their phonetic writing, were never farV
moved from this ikonomatic stage of development. They'
bined however, with it certain clearly defined mono^Ua*
c
THE QKAPHIC SYSTEM OP TBB UA.TA8. SSS
1 the separate alphabetic elements which I have already noted.
I examination of the MSS. proves that there was no special
Bpsposition of the parts of a word. In nthcr words, tliey might be
jjtrangetl from right to left or from left to right, from below up-
wards or from above downward.-;; or the one nnay be placed
within the other. It will easily be seen that this greatly increas-
(-■s the difficulty of deciphering these figures.
As illustrations of the phoneticism of Mexican writing I show
two compounds, quoted by M. Aubin in his well known essay
on the subject. The first is a proper noun, that of the emperor
Montezuma (Fig. 6.) It should be read from below upward. The
I'cturc at the base represents a mouse trap, in NahuatI, montli,
I with the phonetic value mo, or man; the
A head of the eagle has the value quauh,
I from qiiaiihlii; it is transfixed with a lancet,
I ^o; and surmounted with a hand, luaitl,
^ ^ [ K whose phonetic value is iita\ and these val-
\L^ ■"*/ \^ ues combined give mo-qnah-zo-ina.
I P ^ The second. example is a common noun,
\ f the name of a serpent tccuhtlacosauhqiii,
C^^ / (Hig. 7-) It is also read from below up-
y'^^S^ C^j) ward ; the head with the peculiar band and
I\^r^ 1^'^^''^ frontal ornament is that of ontr of the noble
I class, tectthtli; the central figure is a famil-
I iar sign for tla, and represents two teeth,
I tlanlh,; they are surmounted by a jar.
comitl with the value co\ and this in turn
is pierced by a lancet, which here has only
k. its alphabetic value -. The remainder of
1 N^_^_^ the word was not expressed in the writing.
L/\^^ the above much being deemed sufficient to
/ ^^N^O^ convey the idea to the reader.
X %5*^**^^5S In presenting these examples I do not
ft f( bring forward anything new. They are
V_' / I from an essay which has been in print
»y ^/l \ nearly forty years*. Many other examples
\_— -t"''^ \ ' arc to be seen in the great work of Lord
I \ Kingsborough, and later in publications
in the city of Mexico. The learned Rami-
Pt7— Mj«.ai.MiooMi. Hifto -re^ undertook a dictionary of NahuatI
hieroglyphics which has m pait been pub-
- Anct nt MextaUM
nottbc pIioiKiie fKtnn
jucnn nf rhe Codki*. lint duilf
LLircty uuJf>|ujut
356 THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN.
lished; Orozco y Berra in his History of Ancient Mexico gath-
ered a great many lacts illustrative of the phonetic character of
the Mexican script; and within a year Dr. Penafiel has issued a
quarto of considerable size giving ancient local Mexican names
with their phonetic representations.*
With these aids at command, why had not our progress
in the interpretation of the ancient records on stone ^nd paper
been more rapid ? Why do we stand now almost at the same
• point as in 1850?
There can be but one answer, and that will immediately sug-
gest itself from the nature of the phoneticism in the Mexican
writing. What I have called the ikonomatic system of writing
can be elucidated only by one who has a wide command of the
vocabulary of the language. Consider, for a moment, the diffi-
culty which we experience, with all our knowledge of our native
tongue, in solving one of the rebuses which appear in the puz-
zle column of periodicals for children ; or in interpreting the
canting arms in armorial bearings. Not only must we recall the
various names of the objects represented, and select from them
such as the sense of the context requires, but we must make
allowance for extensive omissions, as in one of the examples
above quoted (Fig 7.) and for mere similarities of sound, often
quite remote, as well as for the abbreviations and conventional-
isms cf practiced scribes, familiar with their subject and with this
method of writing the sounds of their language.
Such difficulties as these can only be overcome by long-con-
tinued application to the tongues themselves, and by acquainting
oneself intimately with the forms, the methods, and the variations
of this truly puzzling graphic system. Every identification is
solving an enigma; but once solved, each illustrates the method,
confirms its accuracy, and facilitates the learner's progress, and
at the same time stimulates him with the joyous sense of difficul-
ties conquered, and with the vision of discovered truth illumina-
ting his onward path.
Although, as I have stated, the general principles of this method
were pointed out forty years ago, the prevailing ignorance of the
Nahuatl language has prevented any one from successfully de-
iphering the Mexican script. This ignorance has had even a
worse effect. Men who did not know a dozen words of Nahuatl,
who were unable to construe a single sentence in the language,
have taken upon themselves to condemn Aubin's explanations as
visionary and untrue, and to deny wholly the phonetic elements
of the Mexican writing. Lacking the essential condition of testing
♦Orozco y Berra, HMoria Antigua de Aff.rfro, [Mcxiro. 1880.] The Atlas to this work coo-
tains a large number of proposed identitications of hieroglyphics. Sec also by the same writer, Jfll*
myo de DesclfYacion (Jenmlijica in the Analen del Masr^t Nacional Tom II Miich oif ibi»
i< founded on Ramirez's studies, who, howi-vcr, by his own admission, knew Utile or nothmKof ^
N;ihuatl language [as lie states in hi«i introduction to the CodfX Cflinuilpoptpca nr illl«""
QiLanhUUan.\ Dr. Pcnaficl's praiseworthy collection is entitled CcUoXngo Alfabt^"
nomhrcs dc Lugavcs pcrtcncclentcs al tiioma KahucUU Eittudio Jcrog^^w^ 1%
THE GRAPHIC SYSTEM OP THE MAYAS. 857
the accuracy of the statement, they have presumed blankly to
condemn it!
In contrast to such, I take peculiar pleasure in referring to the
singular success in this method of interpretation by a student of
Mexican Archaeology, whose results will be announced in greater
detail hereafter. I refer to Mrs. Zelia Nuttall Pinart. The inti-
mate acquaintance which this lady possesses of Mexican life and
manners, and of the earliest writers and historians of that country
has felicitously supplemented her knowledge of the Nahuatl
tongue to enable her to make remarkable progress in decipher-
ing the ancient Mexican memorials. She has applied the method
which she has developed to the Vienna Codex, the Borgian and
Fejevary Codices, and to the inscriptions on the celebrated
Calendar and Sacrificial Stones. The results she has obtained
cast an entirely new light on ancient Mexican history and social
life, and her conclusions, if established, will deal a severe blow
at most of the prevailing theories regarding the government,
religion and mythology of the Aztec and allied tribes. Among
the theories thus threatened are some I have advocated in former
publications ; but for all that, I am bound to express the convic-
tion that she is on the right track, and that the extensively
phonetic character of the Mexican script will be victoriously
demonstrated by her researches.
Daniel G. Brinton, M. D.
Philadelphia, Pa., October, 1886.
868 THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN.
THE ORIGIN AND ANTIQUITY OF THE NEW YORK
IROQUOIS.
When the Dutch settled in New York the Five Nations occupied
the country from a point near Schenectady westward, almost to the
Genesee river. They were not then very powerful, though con-
stantly at war, but soon obtained guns; and by the use of these,
advantage of position, courage, unity of action and shrewd man-
agement, they became the most famous and influential of the
Indian nations. Confined to the limited space indicated less than
three centuries since, they extended their home territory to the
Hudson and Lake Erie, and made a vast region tributary. Their
important position between the French and English made them
conspicuous in history, and the long duration of their League gave
that a prominence which other Indian confederacies never attained.
The questions of their origin and antiquity have often been argued
but on very insufficient grounds, and although we have much to
learn, yet these subjects will be stated as they now appear by the
added light of the past few years.
Among the things now evident are these: That no nations of
the Algonquins had occupied their territory before them, or even
any of the Huron Iroquois family to any extent, either in Canada
or New York ; that the Iroquois family came from the north and
west, and had not reached the Atlantic coast, unless in the occa-
sional visits of the Tuscaroras, Andastes and Massawomckes; that
the early New York Iroquois were derived from at least three
sources; that part of them did not enter New York until near the
close of the i6th century; that the League was not formed before
the year 1580, if as early as that.
Neither in Canada nor a large part of New York, are the
grooved stone axes, so common as an Algonquin possession, found
except as rare and accidental examples. Whatever may be the
difference in relics on sites of any age, all agree in this, thus sepa-
rating a large district in Canada and New York from all others.
The New York Iroquois had not reached the sea in their migra-
tions from the north and west, being shut off by the preceding
Algonquin nations. But one shell bead has been found on pre-
historic sites in the Mohawk valley, and not one, as far as I can
ascertain, on an unmixed site in the early Iroquois country further
west. An old grave adjoining a recent site on Cayuga lake, which
contained long shell beads, may prove an exception. East of that
point there is no doubt whatever. The early inhabitants of Central
New York, therefore, could not obtain these marine shells them-
selves, and had not strength or wealth to get them from othera.
It was different with the rich and powerful Hurons of Caw
though more remote from the sea. Their ossuaries are nof
THE ORIGIN AND ANTIQUITY OP N. Y. IROQUOIS. 369
prehistoric indeed, but in them are found marine shells and large
beads and ornaments. Their intercourse with the tribes of the
Mississippi Valley would naturally afford them these, and we
would expect them on Erie and Neutral sites for similar reasons,
though I am not aware that they have been found. So we might
look for these large beads among the first Cayugas and Senecas,
as being derived from the Eries. I have examined some found by
Cayuga lake with great interest, though their age is uncertain.
They reach ^vq inches in length, and occurred in the lowest layer
of five successive burials, apparently old, but close to a large recent
site. They might represent an early Cayuga burial, or one of
the first ossuaries of their Huron captives, which is probable, as
the same form is found on more recent sites.
That the Five Nations were derived from different branches of
the same family, appears from their varying traditions, customs,
languages and clans. That some did not enter New York until
the latter half of the i6th century is evident from their sites, the
Mohawk traditions, and actual history. That the League was
formed later is a matter of course.
Two prominent facts in aboriginal relics in the early territory
of the Five Nations are the utter absence of grooved stone axes,
and of shell beads of any kind at an early day. The chisel-like
celt is sometimes roughened for a handle^ but the deep groove rarely
occurs. In Onondaga county there is a great variation in many
sites and relics, but shell beads and ornaments are unknown until
we come far into the 17th century. There are lines of distinction,
from which we infer a varied occupation, but had any of these
people dwelt long and prosperously there they would doubtless
have had marine ornaments at an early day. Had they come from
the east or south it certainly would have been so.
That they were from different branches of the same family is
evident in many ways. Their dialects vary greatly. It is all
Indian to us, but even now the different nations sometimes fail to
understand each other, and we can name no time when their lan-
gua^^es were the same. Their traditions do not point to the same
national origin, except in a general way. The Senecas were
always thought to bu akin to the Eries, and their legends are of a
western origin. On the other hand, thL' Mohawk story has con-
stantly been that they left the St. Lawrence because of the enmity
of the Adirondacks. It is generally thought that the Oncidas were
a bnmch of the Mohawks, and this seems probable from their lan-
guage and their three clans; the three western nations having from
eight to ten. The word Canada is promincjit in the Mohawk
vocabulary and territory, as it must have been when they lived
on the St. Lawrence in 1535.
Some facts favor an earlier derivation of the Onondagas from
the east end of Lake Ontario, but it is difficult to lojcate them in
the hill country, whence they had their name and device, much
before A. D. 1600. Bone pits occur in Jefferson county, but other-
wise we find slight traces of the feast of the dead until we reach
860 THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN.
the Senecas and Cayugas. They become more distinct among
the Eries and Neutrals further west, with whom the Senecas were
long in alliance.
All the Five Nations came into their New York territory at a
comparatively recent day, at least as nations. If the Senecas were
derived from the Eries, in one sense they had dwelt in the State
as long as these; but when we examine their territory proper,
remembering their device and the meaning of their true name, we
can give them little more national antiquity than the Mohawks.
Their early territory is definitely known; so are most of its Indian
sites, and while those of the Eries from the Genesee river west
are many in number, we can point to very few prehistoric towns
in the old Seneca country. A few are found where the Cayugas
lived, but very many more in the Onondaga possessions. Groups
of earth-works and stockades occur there, as well as village sites
on the rivers and lakes. The many forts in Jefferson county, near
the east end of Lake Ontario, suggest a point whence the Ononda-
gas may have come, but as people of the Hill they are recent. The
few prehistoric hill sites have little to connect them with the earlier
ones of the lowland, though a connection need not be denied ; but
the general evidence would favor the opinion that they entered
their New York territory, as a body, about the same time as the
Mohawks and affected by the same causes, seeking the hills as a
securer refuge from the Adriondacks, .or their allied the Hurons,
and not dwelling by the navigable waters as earlier settlers had
done. That they were affected by fear in the choice of their homes,
is evident from the long distances they dwelt from their fishing
places.
There are many sites in Onondaga county earlier than those of
the hills, but some of these may have been homes of the Andastes,
or Tuscaroras, where they tarried a while on their journey south.
They may have been occupied by others, even by small tribes at
once absorbed by the Onondagas, as some earthen-ware seems to
show.
It is much the same with the Oneidas. Schoolcraft tells its that
they dwelt at Oneida Castle long before Hudson ascended the great
river, unaware that the village was founded but about 130 years
ago. The name and device of the people of the Stone age give
us a hint, and the village site near the old Oneida Stone may well
have been their earliest home as a nation. Again, however, we
find so few prehistoric sites that no great antiquity can be assigned
them. If the Oneidas were a branch of the Mohawks, as is gener-
ally supposed, their origin was quite recent, though they might
have led the way ; if they sprang from the Onondagas, as one
tradition afnrms, they might prove of earlier derivation. A mixed
origin is probable.
In the case of the Mohawks the testimony is more
Mr. S. L. Frcy writes me that he has examined with ff*
the sites of many villages and other spots once <•
is satisfied that no people preceded the Mohliw^
ORIGIN AND ANTIQUITY OF THE IROQUOIS. 361
river. Once only had he found other indications, though he had
carefidly looked for them. His conclusion is that only the Mo-
hawks dwelt there, and that they came from the north with their
early arts in perfection, but with a very small outside trade. In
many years' research he had found but two prehistoric sites, and on
these the pottery was the same as in recent graves in every way.
From these two sites he had gathered thousands of articles, but
"only one piece of a sea-shell, partly drilled, one shell bead, and
one copper tube; no Catlinite whatever from these places. Very
little commerce did these fellows have."
The relics found assist us partially, and yet but slightly, in tracing
the early movements of the Five Nations. In the Onondaga ter-
ritory the prehistoric sites are mainly in the lowlands; the recent,
more in the hills. Bird amulets, banner stones, tubes, soapstonc
vessels, and native copper implements do not occur on the hill
sites; and while the earth-works and stockades of the lowlands are
circular, those of the highlands are angular. Some of the earthen-
ware in the latter seems unique, as in the jars with human heads
and figures at the angles, but this style seems to belong to the ear-
ly part of the 17th century. Some of the pipes as well as the
earthworks, suggest a connection with the early sites of Jefferson
county, whence I think the Onondagas came. That they were
derived from the villages on the rivers is less probable, though
some of the earthenware is the same. There is a general likeness
pointing to one family, but I can hardly doubt that three or four
different nations have occupied Onondaga county. Lines of small
earthworks and stockades favor this conclusion.
Whether one of these may have been the Shavvnees is uncertain,
though I doubt it. Charlevoix records the coming of the Iroquois
to New York, in his letters of 1720, and their first wars against
other nations, without giving the names of these. Coldcn and
others, at a late day, speak of the Shawnees as thus dispossessed,
and partially adopted. There seems no further evidence on this
point, and the remaining sites hardly support it. If it proves true,
it would give a more definite and recent date for the advent of
the Onondagas from the north. It is quite possible that their first
advance was along the Oswego river, as they relate about A. D.
1500, but that the final movement and consolidation was nearly a
century later.
Saying nothing of unenclosed sites and mere fishing villages,
there is a curious progression in the two series of earthworks in
northern and western Onondaga, suggesting growth in some way,
and then an overthrow or absolute departure. One series of cir-
cular earthworks commences with a very small fort at Oswego
Falls, succeeded by another a few miles south, of less than an acre,
and occupied but a few weeks. A third of the same size, two
miles further, had a longer occupation, then one of nearly three
acres, in a more central position as regards water, ended the series
abruptly. It is much the same with the Elbridge forts. Two
Jmuu Mirthworks lay east of the village, succeeded by one over an
863 THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN.
acre to the west. Another oi 2]4 acres carries the series further
westward, and this line of elliptical works ends with the moderately
large fort on Fort Hill in Auburn. The inhabitants suddenly van-
ished.
It is easy to say, as some have done, that these were forts made
by the Five Nations, while warring with each other before their
union, but they built forts when they became confederate, as our
hills and ravines show, yet these were neither ellipses or circles,
but generally angular. The first builders may have emigrated or
been conquered; they may have been Tuscaroras or Andastes
moving southward ; or some unknown nation destroyed by invaders
early or late, but there are many objections to calling them the
Five Nations. Yet they did not apparently remain long, and a
himdred years might cover either series. However this may be the
latter part of the i6th century is a marked period in the character
of the New York Iroquois territory.
In the Mohawk valley the case is very clear. The Mohawks
lived in three towns when first known, and with but two pre-
historic sites for the whole nation it is impossible to carry their
occupation far back into the i6th century, and with this tradition
agrees.
Until recently I have had less knowledge of the Cayuga sites,
except the earthworks belonging to an Onondaga group. Their
name throws no light upon their history, except to locate them in
their known habitations near Cayuga lake and their remains indi-
cate a recent origin.
If the Senecas, the People of the Mountain, had their proper name
from Bare Hill on the east shore of Canandagua lake, as their
tradition relates, there is nearly the same result as to age; but in
any case prehistoric towns were few in their territory, while the
later settlements were many. Tradition gives them but one fort
at the first, though history indicates an early division, continued
into later times. In the middle of the 17th century their principal
villages were four; one being occupied by captive colonists. But
it is reasonable to connect them somewhat closely with the neigh-
boring Eries in the early part of that century, and there are fair
grounds for classing them both with the Massawomekes, mentioned
by Capt. John Smith and others. Their customs, houses, clans,
languages and traditions were so different from the eastern nations
of the League, that it seems proper to turn to the west, and derive
them from the Eries, from whom Champlain may not have clearly
distinguished them.
If the Antouhonorons were the Senecas, as may have been too
hastily understood, then Champlain's map of 1632 and its notes are
important. They are placed on the south shore of Lake Ontario,
but while the Neutrals are located and mentioned, the Eries are
not. By the Antouhonorons he may have meant the Eries alonei
or may have included the Senecas with them, as the EnglisT
thought by some to have done with the Massawomekes* T
is that "The Antouhonorons are 15 villages, built
ORIGIN AND ANTIQUITY OP THE IROQUOIS. 868
positions, enemies of all others except the Neutral nation. The
Yroquois and the Antouhonorons make war together against all
the other nations, except the Neutral nation." The villages are thus
too many for the Senecas alone, and they were confederate with,
but distinct from the Iroquois, which would apply to the Eries.
From what he could gather among them, more than a century
since, the Rev. Mr. Kirkland understood that the Senecas were
last to join the Iroquois League.
Traditions vary, and can only be trusted when there is other
evidence. Out of these there are three that seem worthy of men-
tion; none of them true of the Five Nations as a body but all
possibly so of a part. One relates that they came from the west,
parallel with but to the north of the Delawares, settling in their
respective homes as they proceeded; and this may apply to the
whole family, or refer only to the later movements of the Cayugas,
and Sene cas. Another asserts that the Onondagas originated at
Oswego Falls; or, more broadly, that all the Iroquois came into
New York along that river settling in villages by the Seneca. Some
early nfition, evidently of this family, did proceed by successive
stages along Oswego and Seneca rivers, and a portion may have been
Onondagas.
The Mohawk tradition was told almost at once to the French
and Dutch, and assumes historical distinctness. The Mohawks
resided on the St. Lawrence with the Adirondacks, who were
hunters and warriors; the others cultivating the soil, and exchanging
grain for game. Six of each went on a hunting party; the one part
to dress and bring home the game which the others expected to kill.
The hunters got no game, and the Mohawks wished to see what
they could do. Despised as they were they fared well, and the
contempt of the Adirondacks turned into hatred. They treacher-
ously slew their six companions, and refused redress when this was
discovered. The Mohawks left the country, established themselves
in New York, learned the art of war, and thence carried on a re-
lentless contest against their Canadian foes. This war was in
progress when the French began to settle Canada in 1608, but
Charlevoix thought it had not continued long.
Knowing that the Mohawks were living peaceably on the St.
Lawrence in 1535 and as late as 1542, we have a date and an his-
torical fact on which we can safely build. It becomes of further
importance when we try to find a reasonable time for the forma-
tion of the Iroquois League. In determining approximately that
period we have several data. It could not have been long before
the coming of Europeans to New York, if at all, because there are
few prehistoric sites which could have been occupied. The
names and devices of the nations point in the same direction, as
has been shown. The Mohawks could not have had their device
of the flint and steel before they had seen white men. The Oneidas
apparently dwelt by some conspicuous stone when they took their
name and totem. Leaving that stone we come upon historic sites
at once. The Onondagas were highlanders when their device was
864 THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN.
a cabin on a hill, but the earliest possible hill site we can assign
them may barely prove 300 years old.
The early Mohawk tradition places the formation of the League
a man's lifetime before the coming of the whites, but they dwelt
on the St. Lawrence in 1535 apparently unmolested. Allowing
for the Adirondack invasion, a suitable interval and their own re-
moval, perhaps by 1550, more likely some years later, they entered
the Mohawk valley. That they dwelt there as strangers and in
fear, appears from their first secluded and fortified villages on
tributaries to the Mohawk. Some years would elapse before the
League was formed. The common statement takes 70 .years, as a
man's lifetime, from 1609, the year in which Champlain entered
the lake, and Hudson the river, which bear their names. This
gives 1539, a date far too early for the facts of the case, for they
were still in Canada when the F'rcnch abandoned their trading
post in 1542. If we call a lifetime a generation of 30 years, it
would bring us to 1579, a much more probable date. But it seems
better to reckon from the settlement of the Dutch, than from the
explorations of two men, neither of whom reached their New
York homes. We would then have a later day.
There are other good reasons for this. There is no hint what-
ever that the Mohawks had allies when the French went against
them in 1609, or that the Onondagas could hope for aid when
Champlain made his invasion in 1615. For a longtime the Dutch
distinguished the Iroquois simply as the Maquaes and Senecas,
saying nothing of a confederacy. Yet if, as seems certain, the
League was at first a loose alliance, merely for preventing nation-
al quarrels, it may well have been formed as early as 1580. As
late as 1650 it seemed to have been little more than this. It was
even later that the Mohawks asked the Dutch to protect their
women and children, if the Senecas attacked their castles, w^ich
strengthens Kirkland's statement.
If we place any dependance on the formation of a more formal
and closer League, at a traditional spot on the shores of Ononda-
ga lake, we must bring this down to the 17th century. The
Onondagas, as a nation, do not seem to have entered the country
which now bears their name until that time, and a council at the
lake before this seems hardly probable.
The legend of Hiawatha gives no clear light upon this. Some
names and incidents link it with the true history of the League,
but among the Onondagas it has long been an Indian adaptation of
the life of Christ. If we take other traditions of events before the
alliance, they are seen to be modern. The Flying Fiery Heads
may have been rockets, bombs, or anything else. The Great
Quis-quis, or Hog, must have had its name after the Whites came.
The Stonish Giants, whom arrows could not harm, are men in
iron armor; and wc can judge how modern are many myths bj
things like these.
Two criticisms have been made upon my views. On^
the development of language requires a long resident
ORIGIN AND ANTIQUITY OF THE IROQUOIS. 365
quois in New York and the other is that Indian traditions demand
an earlier date. In the faee of archaeological evidence I do not
think either of these objections serious, but thank my kindly critics
for the courtesy shown by them, and for the opportunity they
have given me of strengthening my position.
It does not seem to me that where a language is descriptive, like
that of the Iroquois, it does take long to differentiate dialects. A
man describes an animal or plant by some characteristic, and it is
recognized by another by this, idthough he may give it another
name. One calls a certain woodpecker a High-hole, while another
terms it a Golden-wing. The difference is not that of language
as much as description, and yet all naturalists know how rapidly
such nomenclature develops among a people of few words.
To save time, however, the objection may be granted. But
while there are insuperable difficulties in giving the Mohawks, for
instance, an early residence in their valley, there arc none in the
way of this differentiation of language while they dwelt in Canada.
It is not only granted, but believed that they came from the St.
Lawrence with essentially the same dialect, clans and customs that
they had when the Dutch first met them. We think the same of
the Onondagas. Either Jefferson county was long occupied, or
else was very populous in prehistoric times. In many ways the
former is reasonable, and the philologist can take all the time he
chooses there. The Oneidas may have been a reflex wave of the
Andastes, whom the Senecas would have destroyed, but when
the Mohawks wished to preserve as near of kin. The Senecas
and Cayugas may easily have preserved to us the otherwise ex-
tinct Erie and Neutral languages. One thing seems certain: They
did not develop their early dialects in the New York Iroquois ter-
ritory.
The traditions of time are uncertain in their testimony, and the
best we can do is to prefer the early to the later. It is said that
the Senecas now claim that the League was formed several gen-
erations before the whites came, and this need not be questioned.
When Schoolcraft took his census, one band of that nation placed
it about 1605. The Onondagas told Ephraim Webster, a century
ago, that this occurred about a man's lifetime before the whites
came. The missionary Pyrlans was told the same thing by the
Mohawks in 1742, and other writers say much the same. It is the
early testimony opposed to later enlargements. I have, however
taken the ground that the Indians have forgotten too much to be
reliable witnesses on points of history where time is concerned. .
Morgan says their tradition was that the Oneidas and Onondagas
were at first one nation, but the one settled at Oneida Castle, and
the other in the Onondaga Valley and thus became two. As a
matter of fact the first of these places was occupied after 1750, and
the latter after 1700. The trusted historian of the Onondagas,
Ondiaga, told La Fort in the early part of this century, that the
Indians built the forts at Jamesville and in Pompey before the
League was made; but the first of these was burned in 1696, and
866 THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN.
but one of the latter can be called prehistoric. La Fort himself
assured Schoolcraft that their oldest men knew nothing of Zeis-
berger's sojourn among them about 1750, although his residence
was by public permission, and he was ;Tiade keeper of the wam-
pum. Indeed the traditions regarding the remaining wampum
are utterly at fault, new meanings have been given to the belts,
and my recent close inspection proves the modern character of the
material. Many such instances could be cited of the forgetfulness
of an unlettered people.
As the Seneca traditions now claim a higher antiquity than the
Mohawks formerly did, we are reminded of what President
Kirkland said long ago, in regard to that nation. Their stories
were open to suspicion when they magnified themselves, and as to
that of their origin at Bare Hill, he thought it was made up
through "national vanity, for which the Senecas are pre-eminently
distinguished."
The strong points regarding the recent origin of the Five Na-
tions as such, thus come from their earliest^statements, from his-
tory, and from a close examination of their early territory. Other
things could be produced, but these are satisfactory to some living
amid their early homes, and who have yielded first impressions
only to actual proof. They would have preferred believing in a
higher antiquity for the Iroquois League, but seem to have no
choice.
Rev. W. M. Beauchamp.
THE DHEGIHA LANGUAGE. IL
Ictinike (pronounced Ish-t^-ne-kay) was the son of the Sun-god,
according to the Iowa tradition. He was expelled from the upper
world for gazing on his father, when the latter was nude. He
found himself in a canoe, which floated o'er the waters that had
submerged this world. Ictinike, aided by the muskrat and a bird,
caused the new earth to appear, and made all the animals. He
was the great deceiver, who taught the Indians all their bad deeds,
including certain war customs. He was the rival of the Rabbit.
ICTINIKE MYTHS.
I. Ictinike^ the turkeys^ turtle^ a?td elk, — Ictinike deceived the
turkeys, causing them to dance around him with closed eyes while
he sang this song:
" Beware! he who has seen.
" Eyes (shall be) red! Eyes (shall be) red!
"Spread your tails! Spread your tails!''
He seized the largest ones and wrung their heads ofif, pu*
birds in his sack. But some of the birds suspecting
THE DHEGIHA LANGUAGE, II. 867
peeped and gave the alarm, and many escaped. Those who peeped
had red eyes after so doii^. Ictinike thought that he would have
a feast, but after he put the turkeys by the fire, his arm was caught
between two branches of a tree, and he was not released until the
wolves had devoured all the turkeys! Subsequently he killed a
turtle, which he covered with hot ashes. While Ictinike slept, the
Coyote crept up, found the turtle, which he ate. Then he greased
Ictinike on the mouth, hands and stomach, and stuck the legs back
in the ashes. Once more Ictinike was deceived for on awaking,
he thought he had eaten the turtle, till he pulled out the legs.
Next, he met some elk, whom he persuaded to change him into
an elk. He led them into an ambuscade, were all were killed but
three. Then Ictinike resumed his proper shape. Two other
versions of this myth are given, one being entitled (2.) Ictinike
and the elk.
3. Ictinike and the buzzard. — This myth tells of a trick which
Hega, the Buzzard played on Ictinike. The latter called on the
other for aid, and by his magic art changed himself into an elk,
which Hega thought was dead. Hega ventured too far, and was
caught by Ictinike, who stripped off the feathers from the head and
neck of his foe. "Therefore the buzzard has no feathers on his
head, which is very red."
4. Ictinike^ the brothers^ and sister, — This myth shows how
the animals received their names from the four brothers, who were
good marksmen. The sister knew how to call all the animals, and
she was tempted by Ictinike to use her art for his benefit. A large
elk carried her between his horns to the under-world, where she
was finally discovered by the fourth brother, who cleft a mountain
in two after his brothers had failed.
5. Ictinike and the deserted children — A tyrant grizzly bear
made the people abandon all their children. The story relates the
adventures of the children, till they kill the tyrant by the aid of
Ictinike. This was the only occasion (besides the re-creation of
lands on which Ictinike did a good act! The original contains 151
lines.
6. Ictinike^the coyote and the colt, — The coyote pretended that
a sleeping colt was dead, and tied Ictinike's hands to the colt's
hind legs. The coyote stood at the colt's head, and told Ictinike
to pull. The colt awoke, and rising kicked Ictinike loose handling
him roughly, to the amusement of the coyote. Ictinike had his
revenge at night, when he persuaded the coyote to stick his tail
through a hole in the ice in order to catch fish. It is shown how
thecovote obtained another tail.
, COYOTE MYTHS.
7. The fnma and the coyote, — The coyote wished to marry a
chief's daughter, and prevailed on the puma to act as his horse.
See the myth for other particulars.
8. The coyote and the buffaloes, — The coyote wished to become
a buffalo. His prayer was granted; but he was unfortunate, and
868 THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN
became a coyote again. On his second application to the buffaloes,
he was gored and tossed into the air, and as he came down he
was killed.
J. Owen Dorsey.
Bureau of Ethnology, P. Q. Box 591, Washington, D. C.
{To be continued.)
The Museum
DEVOTED TO THE INTERESTS OF COLLECTORS.
EDITED BY EDWIN A. BARBER.
PTOLEMAIC TETRADRACHMS.
Ed, American Antiquarian:
Visiting the Boston Art Museum, last July, my attention was
drawn to a case in the midst of a hall, and inscribed " Gift of
the Egyptian Exploration Fund; Finds at Naucratis in 1884."
After a glance at sundry scarabs, mummy clothes, etc., my eye
was caught by a series of ancient coins, mostly copper, — but some
of them silver. One of these last, marked No. 95, I saw to be in
its obverse an exact duplicate of the Ptolemaic tetradrachm I was
wearing as a charm on my watch-guard. Surprised at this
discovery I sought out the keeper who was even more surprised
than I was myself at the coincidence. " Your piece," said she " is
in better preservation than ours, and besides ours has just had its
date determined, and was placed in its present position only two
days ago." The lady custodian was as eager as I to learn how
far the antiques tallied on the reverse sides, and so her key was
soon forthcoming. The Boston piece, when taken out and laid
sided by side with mine, proved to be on its reverse identical with
it in every thing save three or four letters indicative of date. Both
the coins showed an eagle perched upon a thunderbolt. Both
showed a shield on our right as we looked at the eagle, though
the Boston shield was less distinct than mine. Both on our left
showed the name ptolemaiou and between it and the eagle the
same mint-mark, p t , denoting Ptolemais, now Acre, a town
on the western coast of Palestine — where Ptolemy Soter, regnant
323-283 B. C. — built a town, called it by his name, and established
a mint. No Ptolemaic coins of a later date than 198 B. C. bear
this mint-mark, for in that year Ptolemais was dissevered frcm
the Ptolemaic dominions. •
Boston numismatists hold their tetradrachm to date from about
240 to -250 B. C. The letters k e on mine stand as I suppose for
the 25th year of Ptolemy, that is 298 B. C, if the coin w2ls mintH
under Ptolemy Soter.
My Ptolemaic relic I obtained in Jerusalem in 1868 frof^
THE MUSEUM. 3«9
of my banker there, Berghem. This young man had been down
to Mount Sinai taking photographs of the scenery in that region
which has always been beyond the beat of travelers. While there
an Arab boy brought the tetrad rachm to Berghem's tent saying
he had picked it up in the sand. As men of agnostical turn never
look at my charm without blurting out skeptical doubts as to the
genuineness Of the coinage, I am glad that I have one fact ready,
which always reduces them to shame and silence, namely, that
Berghem bought the coin for one franc while it is now worth
more than three for old silver.
Seeing these two issues of the same mint, one that must have
lain a millennium or two in Nile mud — and the other perhaps as
long in Sinaitic sand, both sharing in an analogous resurrection,
crossing the ocean and meeting in my hand, I needed no further
witness that truth is stranger than fiction.
J. D. BUTLEK.
MOUNDS ON THE RED RIVER OF THE NORTH.
Editor American Antiquarian :
In the March number of the Antiquarian I read with much
interest Mr. C. N. Bell's letter on the mound system of Manitoba.
Recently this subject has attracted considerable attention through
Canadian papers and societies, and more or less explorations are
being made by private individuals who are interested in this line.
It will seem that there is a growings impression that "an im-
mense number of mounds exists in northern Minnesota and Man-
itoba, north of the valley of the Mississippi," and that there is a
well defined link connecting them with the mound system of the
valley proper.
North of a line drawn from Duluth to Grand Forks, and thence
west, the mounds are exceedingly scarce. There are but few
mounds north of Winnipeg along the Red River, six being the
largest number at any one point. There are also a few isolated
mounds reported as existing in various directions from these. In
one section where several were reported, by investigation only two
pioved to be of artificial origin. One of these is known :ts Calf
Mountain, which has been written up as being an "effigy." There
is no doubt of its being artificial, but it does not belong to the effi^
gy class of mounds. It is 95 feet in diameter and 15 feet high,
and has an approach or graded roadway running south-west from
it 154 feet with a height of two feet. The great Missouri trail
crosses this roadway near the mound.
Alexander Henry, the trader, returning by the way of the Hair
Hills, (now Pembina Mountain) with his party from the visit to
the Mandans and other tribes of the upper Missouri river in the
year 1806, thus graphically describes this locality — the Tcte dc
Beuf of that time: "This spot of land appears to me to be the
370 THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN.
height of hind upon this mountain" * * * * "From this
elevated station the prospect is extensive in every direction, except-
ing on the north side where the strong wood is near at hand. In
the other direction the land appears to fall upon all sides for a
considerable distance. At this spot there is a small lake about half
a mile in circumference, at the south end of which stands a small
round hillock in the shape of a bee-hive. On the top. of this the
Assineboines and Crees are very particular to make sacrifices of
tobacco and other trifles, and collecting also a certain number of
bull's heads which they daub over with red earth, and are deposit-
ed on the summit, the nose always pointing to the east."*
The British explorer Capt. Palliser, in 1857, spoke of the same
place thus: " We rested for dinner at the edge of a small lake. ♦ ♦♦
A very curious hill rises in the neighborhood, which is known sis
the " Beef Lodge." A fine view of the surrounding country may
be obtained from its summit, which rises to the altitude of fifty
feet above the adjacent plains. ***** the summit of Pembina
Hill." The Canadian explorers, Hind and Dawson, in 185S also
took particular notice of it. They wrote: "Within a few yards
of the track, there is a conical hill about two hundred feet high
called the " Calf's Tent;"' rather a remarkable looking object,
rising as it does so abruptly from out the level plain and alone;"
and again, " Halted at noon beside a clump of oak separated by
a lakelet from a high conical knoll called the ' Calf's Tent.' "
There arc only a few mounds along Red river from the inter-
national boundary line southward. So far I have surveyed mounds
at the following points: At Pembina and twelve miles south in
Dakota; in Minnesota at the mouth of Red Lake River, each side
of the river at Abercrombie, one opposite the mouth of the Otter
Tail, in Wahpeton, and one near the foot of Lake Travers on the
Minnesota side. South of the latter along Travers and Big Stone
lakes the mounds are more numerous. From the foot of Lake
Travers to the foot of Winnipeg lake the mounds surveyed to-
gether with those reported do not exceed 25 or 30 in number.
The longest space between any two groups is from Fort Pembina
to the mounds in St. Andrew's Parish north of Winnipeg, a dis-
tance of fully So miles in an air line. From the general character
of the country between these points there is but little possibility
of fitiding any additional mounds. As to relics along the river in
Minnesota and Dakota, besides the more common things, several
copper spear heads have been found in plowing, and three taken
from mounds. A fine copper spear, nine inches long, was taken
from a mound near Fort Pembina. There are, however, other
avenues by which it is possible not only to make a connection with
the St. Andrew's mounds but also with the well known mounds
of Rainy river. Along the eastern side of "Lake Agassiz" the
margin is higher than the (Red River) valley, in some places be-,
coming hilly. At intervals along the margin there are a fev
tering mounds. A thorough exploration will probable
the number and connect one or both of the above grf
THE MUSEUM. 371
mounds in central Minnesota. The Rainv river mounds would
seem at a glance to be even more isolated than those of St. Andrew's
Parish, but the fact is that it is only about 60 miles from the group
at the narrows of Red lake to the nearest group on Rahiy river.
In Dakota along the western side of Lake Agassiz it would seem
from present information that the mounds are somewhat more
numerous than on the eastern side. There are a few mounds
around Devil's Lake and also at Stump Lake, and many more
scattered through the valley of the Cheyenne river below them.
Along the James river valley there is quite a mound system. At
one or two points copper ornaments have been exhumed from the
mounds. Along the Missouri river north of Pierre there are but
few mounds. The so-called Mandan mounds are very numerous as
are ^Iso the ruined dirt houses of the house building Indians —
Mandans, Gros Ventres, and Arickarees. These "mounds" are
simply rubbish heaps and nothing more. They consist of ashes,
dirt, broken pottery, quantities of animal bones, and various im-
plements of bone and stone, mostly broken. It would seem that
the debris was collected up within and around the houses and
thrown into a heap merely as a matter of convenience. The ruin-
ed houses of this region are, by some of the knowing ones, called
house mounds. There is no such thing as a house mound and
there never was. The summer lodges or houses were built wholly
above ground, with a layer of clay 2 or 3 feet high placed around
the outside for protection. When decayed and fallen in, the ruins
consist of a simple earth circle with one or more openings. The
winter houses were constructed with more care. First an excava-
tion from 3 to 5 feet was made. Above this excavation the super-
structure was erected, which was composed of timber and poles
and covered with small willows and grass ; then, excepting the en-
trance and a place for the escape of smoke, the whole was covered
with clay of from 6 inches at the top to 3 feet in thickness at the
bottom. These houses were not only for a protection against an
enemy but also for shelter against the inclemency of the weather.
When in ruins they not only leave a distinct circle above the level
ground but also an excavation from 2 to 4 feet below the level. It
is not uncommon to find both styles of houses on the same village
site.
If we admit that the said knowing ones who insist on house
mounds are correct in their theories, how long would it take for
these ruined houses to become even flat-topped mounds? Grant-
ing the possibility of decaying vegetation and the small amount of
accumulating dust being able to fill these cavities and level off the
top, the length of time required for that process would be so great,
that instead of attributing them to the modern Indian, we would
be compelled to search among the Pre- Adamites to ascertain who
built them.
T. H. Lewis.
Perham, Otter Tail Co., Minn., Sept. 11, 1S86.
372 THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN.
ROMAN COINS FOUND IN OSHKOSII.
Ed. American Antiquarian :
III 1883, A. M. Braincrd of Oshkosh, digging in his garden
there, turned up a strange coin. He sent it to me. It was in-
dubitably an issue from the mint of the Emperor Hadrian, in the
second century. A copper tool and certain stone inplements found
in the same locality betokened an Indian or pre-historic grave. It
seemed to me unlikely that any man in recent times woidd have
passed that spot with any Hadrianic coin in his pocket. Accord-
ingly I looked on this find as proying pre-historic intercommuni-
cation between Wisconsin and Italy. I have now more faith than
ever in my conjecture for several reasons. Thus I read in Gibbon
that " in the sixth century of our era caravans traversed the whole
longitude of Asia in two hundred and forty-three days ixova the
Chinese ocean to the sea-coast of Syria." Proofs are not wantin<(
of such .intercourse many centuries earlier. In the present year
Roman coins of the times of Tiberius (cotemporary with Christ)
and Aurelian in considerable quantities have been discovered in an
inland province of China. When Hadrian's money had reached
China it was already two-thirds of the distance to Wisconsin.
What was easier than for some bits of it to cross the streak of
silver sea which separates Asia and America? The passage of
coins from Alaska to Oshkosh would have been as natural as that
of the obsidian arrows which are picked up on the shore of Lake
Winnebago — for obsidian cannot be detected iyi situ nearer than
the Pacific slope, — or at least the Yellowotone National Park—
which according to aboriginal ideas was still harder of access.
My view that the Oshkosh medal came from the west rather than
from the east, is confirmed by evidence that has just come to light
At the last Boston meeting of the American Antiquarian Society,
several tools and ornaments brought from Costa Rica, and made of
jadeite or chloromelanite, were exhibited. The raw material of these
specimens up to this time has never been found in situ in America,
nor in any other continent except Asia. The articles, chemically
tested in the labratory of Harvard College by the Professor there,
were pronounced by him " unquestonbly Chinese jude.'' Oshkosh
is not so far as Costa Rica is from Behrings Straits. I am glad of
jude coming to thicken other proofs which did demonstrate thinly
that it was not Satan alone who of old went to and fro in the earth
and walked up and down in it.
J. D. Butler, LL. D.
PIPES AMONG THE PUEBLOS.
It has not yet been determined whether the ancient Pueblo tribes
of southern Utah and Colorado used the pipe in smoking. Amongst
the abundance of pottery and other objects which have been fon««^
throughout that section, tobacco-pipes have been conspicuc^
their absence. If they were used at all they were, generaK
THE MUSEUM. 878
invariably, made of some perishable material, such as wood, all
traces of which have long since disappeared. The only object
which has thus far been found associated with undoubted ancient
remains, which in any way resembles a tobacco-pipe, is the one
here figured. This was found by a member of the U. S. Geol.
and Geog. Survey, in the aouth-westeni corner of Col-
orado, in the year 1S75. It ta a tube, open at both ci I
and closely resembles pipes made by some of the mod
ern tribes now living oil the borders of the Colon lo
and Gila rivers, and, in miniature, the stone tubes
found in graves in California and which are known
to have been used in the enjoyment of the narcot c
weed hy the ancient inhabitants of the Pacific Const
If not a pipe it is difficult to conjecture what the object 1
could have been designed for. Amongst the san e I
ruins was found, by the same person, and almost
the same spot, a portion of another object which to I
the average observer, would suggest the idea o'
cigar-holder. It is a portion of a stone tube, appare tly 1 baster
hut thicker and heavier than such implements use I o by the
civilized smoker. Those who have examined it have pronounced
it, however, a veritable cigar tube, and it has been surmised that it
was dropped by an explorer when passing through that section
years ago. The orifice is tapering — narrow at the end and rapidly
widening tow.ird the broken part. The drilling is smooth and
shows no signs of having been done by aboriginal methods; vet it
'has been pronounced by one archxologist of experience to be a
portion of an old Indian pipe. The specimen is now in the posses-
sion of the editor of this Department who will take pleasure in
exhibiting it to any one who can throw any light upon its origin.
THE NICARAGUA FOOT-PRINTS AGAIN.
The New York Herald says that " a block of stone 24 inches
square arrived in this city and is now in the oficc of Mr. H. H.
Leavilt, late U. S. Consul to Managua, Nicaragua, containing
the impression of a human foot. The block "was t.iken from the
bottom of a stone quarry which, for a space of aoo ft. long and 70
ft. wide, bore traces of the countless!* feet of adults and children.
No particular direction of motion was indicated by the imprints as
the toes pointed in many ways, which would not have been the
case had the movement been a common one among the race of
people who left their foot-prints on the sands.
Several blocks cut from the same stratum were sent to Vienna
during the last year and are now in the National Museum, but the
geologists and scientists were unable to arrive .it any conclusion as
to the period when the imprints were made, as the gentleman who
sent them did not send specimens of the overlaying strata. This
•CannllHi! Could nol Ui. Lorilt couU ttMn'-Ei),
374 THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN.
Mr. Lcavitt guarded against, and he showed specimens of every
strata to the number of eleven, as well as an engineer's diagram of
the quarry and exact measurements. The stone itself is a remarka-
ble specimen. The foot is most clearly defined, the lines, curves,
and toes being most distinct, having sunk into the soft material,
since turned to stone some five inches.
Mr. Leavitt says that he visited the quarry with several gentle-
men, and that he had the block cut. The quarry is near Lake
Manaqua, which is forty to fifty feet below it on the dead level.
Large trees at one time flourished on the surface. The whole
district is of volcanic formation to a great depth, as shown by the
many swells in the towns and neighborhood. As near as can be
judged the strata in the quarry are level, do not vary in sequence
and very little in thickness. Several strata are alike, save that the
underlying ones are solidified. For instance, stratum 12, in which
the foot-prints are to be found, is the same as stratum 3, ten feet
above it. It is a dark gray conglomerate, very porous, no cracks or
fissures, and full of pieces of hard black cinder.
No. II, overlaying No. 12, is the same as No. 4, a dark gray
indurated mud called talpitate. It is not used for any purpose.
Through No. 11 are numerous horizontal veins or streaks full of
impressions of leaves and twigs. Of these Mr. Leavitt has several
specimens; they are similar to coal specimens, save in color.
Stratum 5 is of indurated mud, light yellow color, interspersed with
shale of some material and with pumice. Local name of stratum
talpuga. No. 6, loose gravelly black sand, grains rounded, as
though by action of water, and precisely similar to the sands on
the banks of the lake."
AN INDIAN GUN-FLINT.
A gun-flint, evidently of Indian workmanship, was found during
the past summer, on the surface of an old Indian shell-heap, near
Tuckerton, N. J. It is supposed to have been dropped by one of
the natives who lingered in that section after the white man had
appeared. The chipping is entirely diffierent from that which
characterises the ordinary European gun-flints, and was evidently
effected by the method of pressure, the flakes taken from the edges
being numerous and small.
SHELL HEAPS IN NEW JERSEY.
Near the village of Manahawken, N. J., are numerous shell-
heaps which have only partially been explored. A superficial
examination of some of them recently resulted in the discovery of
a few weather-beaten arrow-heads and some bones of birds. A
more thorough examination of these remains w^ould, doubtlesS|
produce some highly satisfactory results. There is a large f
untrodden field for thirty miles along this portion of the
Jersey coast which is rich in aboriginal remains.
THE MUSEUM. 375
THE ANCIENT WALL IN WISCONSIN.
A discovery at Kaukauna on the Fox River has created some-
thing of a sensation through the papers. Parties were digging a
sewer in the middle of the street when they came upon a wall
which looked as if it was the foundation of a building. Ashes
were found near the wall and the signs of fire were apparent on
the stones. It was said that a large elm tree grew over the spot and
a stone smoothed by glacial action was found near the wall. The
editor took the pains to visit the spot. He found the tree 70 feet
from the wall, and the stone smoothed by the glacier, further away
than the tree. The wall was probably the foundation of some build-
ing or head-gates or locks of a canal. Old settlers stated that
there was an old mill built by the government for the Stockbridges
when they were locatetl at this spot, their first home in Wisconsin.
They remembered also that there was a canal which drew the
water from about the same place where the present dam is, and
that it ran along the foot of the hill near the very spot where the
wall was found. The mill was remembered as being near the
river, but the canal had been forgotten. The accumulation of 8 ft.
of soil above the wall had hidden the canal from sight. The sen-
sation is exploded, the pre-historic wall is a fraud. It shows how
newspajjer stories are started.
COLLECTORS AND COLLECTIONS.
One of the finest pieces of mound pottery to be found in any
collection may be seen in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New
York City. It is a large, f)erfect bowl with a seven-scolloped
rim.
Mr. Wm. W. Adams of Maplcton, N. Y., is an indefatigable
collector. On Aug. 26th last, he unearthed a wampum belt com-
pK)sed of 4,000 pieces. On Sept. 4th he found a deposit of 808
shell beads, making a string eighteen feet long, which were evi-
dently from a pair of Indian leggins. His collection now numbers
some 25,000 specimens.
The National Museum of Naples, Italy, is divided into seven
sections. Its collections of antique figures, coins. Oriental antiques
and manuscripts of the IV to the XV centuries are rich in valuable
and rare specimens.
Mr. J. R. Nissley writes from Mansfield, Ohio: "Last week
I procuretl in the N. W. part of Richland Co., O., a rough piece
of sand-stone about nine inches square and three inches thick- On
one side arc seventeen cup-shaped holes, one-half inch deep and
one and one-fourth inches in diameter, and eleven holes much
smaller. On the other skle are four of the large and six of the
876 THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN.
small depressions. The holes are similar to those described by Dr.
Charles Ran in his monograph \\\ ^^Contributions to Am. Etk,^
Vol. v., Fig. lo, Scotland, and Fig. 22, Sweden.
Editorial.
THE LOST MAN.— WHERE WAS HE LOST?
In the early days of Western exploration there was a Jesuit
Missionary, Father Menard, who became lost in the wilderness
of Wisconsin. It has remained a question where about he was
lost and at what spot he died. He had been a missionary among
the Huronr. near the Georgian Bay but had followed the Ottawas
to the north shore of Lake Superior. He spent the winter near
Keweenaw Point He suffered much from ill treatment but may
be said to have established the first mission on Lake Superior.
The mission, though suspended for a time is now continued un-
der the Dominican Fathers. The date of its establishment was
Oct. 15, 1660. The exact spot of the first mission has been iden-
tified. Father Menard, during the following year undertook to
reach a village of the Hurons but lost his way and perished in
the attempt. The question is, where was this village and in what
direction did Menard's journey lead him. Historians are divided
on this. Nichols Perrot, the French explorer, located the vil-
lage on the Black River but represents Menard as following the
fugitive **Outaowas" to the "Lake of the Illinoets" (Illinois — Lake
Michigan) and in their flight on the Louisianne (Mississippi) as
far as above Black River. The "Outaouas" were the tribe among
whom Menard spent the winter on Lake Superior. The Hurons
were the people whom he was seeking.
According to the Jesuit Relations, Father Menard sent three
young Frenchmen to find out the location of the village of the
Hurons and to inform them that he would go and instruct them
as soon as they should send some guides to conduct him to their
place. **The three Frenchmen, after many hardships, arrived at
the village and found the people in their wigwams, nearly starved,
they were but living skeletons, so feeble that they could scarcdjT;^
stand upon their feet.'\* * "Their return was a great deal b
they were obliged to go up the river whereas they
down stream when seeking for the Huron village,"
THE LOST MAN— WHERE WAS HE LOST? 877
their canoe, (stolen from them) and were obliged to build anoth-
er which they did in one day. They embarked toward the end
of May. It took them 15 days to return to the place from which
they started." Father Menard resolved to seek the village. "Some
Hurons who had come to traffic with the Outaowak offered them-
selves to the Father to act as guides. He gave them some lug-
gage to carry and chose one of the Frenchmen to accompany
him. All the provisions he took along were a bag of dried stur-
geon and a little smoked meat which he had saved for his intend-
ed journey." "He set out on his journey July 3rd, 1661, nine
months after his arrival in the Outaowak country." The Hurons
abandoned him, promising to send some young men to get him.
"About 15 days he stopped near a Lake expecting help. As
provisions were failing, he determined to betake himself on the
way with his French companion, having a small canoe Avhich he
had found in the brush." Finally, about Aug. loth, the poor
Father, "while following his companion, went astray, mistaking
some trees and rocks for others. At the end of a portage, made
in order to get by a rather difficult cataract or rapids, his com-
panion looked back to see whether he could see the Father com-
ing. He seeks for him, calls him, shoots off his gun as many as
five times, to bring him back in the right way but all in vain."
We here learn how Nicholas Perrot made his mistake. He
gathered his narrative from Indian and French Reports. He was
told that Father Menard had been abandoned by the Hurons and
that he and his faithful companion had followed the route care-
fully noting the places where thev made portages, etc. Perrot
supposed the route referred to was the one taken by the Hurons
in their passage from Green Bay down the Wisconsin and up the
Mississippi and Black River. His account is based on this
supposition. ^
Modern historians differ from Perrot as to the route Menard ac-
tually took. Bancroft says that "he yielded to the invitation of
Hurons who had taken refuge in the isle St. Michael. He departed
with one attendant, for the Bay Chegoimagon. The accounts would
indicate that he took the route by way of Keweenaw Lake and
Portage." This island, St. Michael is the same as Madaline is-
land. Dr. Neill says that "on Franquelin's map of 1688 it is called
Isle Detour ou St. Michel. In 1830 Fredrick Ayer came to the
island, St. Michael, which is now called La Pointe, and estab-
lished a school for Indian children." There is no evidences how-
ever, that Father Menard ever visited St. Michael or Madeline
island. Bancroft is mistaken in tracing the route in this direc-
tion.
Thus we have two authorities, Perrot and Bancroft. One places
the route in the extreme South, the other in the extreme North.
Xater writers have placed the route between these two extremes.
X^v. Edward D. Neil and Rev. Chrysostom Verwyst, the author
878 THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN.
of Missionary Labors of Fathers Marquette, Menard and AUouez,
agree upon this point. They locate the route by which Menard
went, along the head waters of the Wisconsin River, and think
that the Huron Village was situated on the head waters of the
Black River. Verwyst says, "we are inclined to think that Father
Menard died somewhere near the mouth of the Copper River, a
few miles above Merrill, between there and Medford."*
"A portion of this tribe, the Hurons, after the destruction of
the mission by the Iroquois in 1649 «^^d 50» ^^^t settled on
Mackinaw Island. They then fled to the Noquet Islands at the
mouth of Green Bay. Then to the Red Clay B^nks about 12
miles from the city of Green Bay. A portion of them afterward
went up the Fox River and down the Wisconsin and up the
Mississippi to Lake Pepin. They settled on an island about 18
miles below Prescott. Here they came in contact with the Sioux
and were forced to abandon their island home. They sailed up
the Black River to its source and there constructed a fort. The
Outaowas in the meanwhile pushed on to Chequamegon Bay
and settled on the shores west of Ashland. They were joined
by the Hurons whose village was at the southwestern end of the
Bay. Here Father Allouez found both tribes in 1665.*'
Dr. Neill says **Father Menard died in the summer of i65i
toward the sources of the Black River."t
Verwyst has followed the "Jesuit Relations" closely. The ac-
count given by these Relations contain the following facts, i.
Menard starts from Kcewenaw Bay with the Hurons, (probably
overland ) 2. He tarries at a lake 1 5 days. 3. He finds a canoe,
passes down the river and reaches a carrying place and is lost.
4. His companion, failing to find him, starts for the village which
is not far distant. He went beyond the village, but met an Indi-
an and was led back and reached the village at the end of two
days. This account agrees very well with Verwyst's supposed
route; Lac Vieux Desart is remote from Keweenaw point and
can be reached only by an overland route. There are rapids in
the Wisconsin river and falls, Big Bull Falls for instance. There
is a land route across the water shed to Black River. Still
there are other rivers and routes which would answer the
description as well as these. I. "The route to the Hurons when sit-
uated on Noquet Island would be overland about 30 miles, then a
tariy at Lake Mitchagami and a portage at Grand Rapids on the
Mcnomonee River. 2. The route to well known Indian villages
on the Chippewa River would involve travelling by land to Lake
Plainbeau; a canoe voyage down the East branch of the River.
A carry around the I^illb, and then a land route. There are the
sites of ancient villages near Chetack, near Rice Lake and at
other points. 3. A route by land and water to Lake Courter-
♦Misiionary Labors of Fathers Marquetlc, Menard and AUouet, p. 176.
tSee Colles:ti:)ns of Minn. Hist. Soct'y., Vol. V, p. 404.
THE LOST MAN— WHERE WAS HE LOST! 879
eilles and a passage down the west branch of the Chippewa would
involve the same experience. The reader can take his choice
out of all these routes. The location of the Huron village is
the point in question.
Dr. Neill says : ** Upon De Tlsles map of Louisiana there
appears a lake of the Ottowas and a lake of the Old or Deserted
Settlement west of Green Bay and south of Lake Superior.
The Lake of the Old Plantation is supposed to have been the
spot occupied by the Hurons at the time when Menard at-
tempted to visit them." We have in our possession a map
resembling De I'lsles, John Mitchell's, 1755. This map places
Lac Viuex Desart at the head of the Wisconsin, but the **Ottawa
Lakes" at the head of the Chippewa, near Lake Flambeau. The
Huron village was not at the Lake, but below the portage, so
that we must must reject Dr. Neill's explanation. There are three
facts which may help us in locating the village, ist. Two French
traders, Groseilliers and Radisson visited the west end of Lake
Superior in 1659 and wintered with the Dakotas in the Mille
Lac region. They reported the Hurons as situated on the head
waters of the Chippewa. Menard returned with Groseilliers.
There were six traders in the company and Menard's servant
Jaen Guerin. Menard must have learned the location of the
village from the trader. 2nd. Allouez, in 1695, found the
Hurons at the west end ofChequamegon Bay; they had fled from
the Sioux to this point. If they had gone from Black River,
they went back toward the Sioux, but if from the Chippewa,
they went away from them. 3rd. Perrot states that a Sac Indian
was found carrying Menard's kettle, and that his cossack was
found with a Sioux Indian. The Sacs and the Sioux were
located on the Chippewa River; the Sioux to the west and the
Sacs to the east. These facts seem to prove that the village
was on the Chippewa River rather than the Black River. They
at least throw uncertainty on the locations fixed upon.
LITERARY NOTES.
BY TDK EUITOIl.
The Identificatio.n of Places.— The remarks upon Rev. Mr. Verwvst's
ami Rev. Dr. Neill's identification of the place of Menard's death siigii^ests a
subject for investi<]:atiou in other localities. We know that parlies are seeking
to find the exact spot in New York where Father Isaac Jo;jjues wtis put to
death by the Iroquois. Mr. R. S. Poole has aNo been studying up the location
of the fort in Illinois which George Rogers Clarke took from the French in
Illinois, and has made the important discovery that it was on the opposite side
of the river from the one generally fixed upon.
880 THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN.
THKNAnPATLPiiosETica.— The article rpiid liy Mrs. Zcllu Nullnll ». _
Kabun pUooetica bufori.' Um A. A. A. S,. at Biiffulo ia publlsbed by Selrrtt
Oct, 2Stb, Willi A cut o( Uie Culecdar Stoue ot Mexico. We iaviie commen
OD It JD our pages, as it is 'ini[}ortaiit to know f>ir a certmnij n-beiber ilicr
was a phoaelic sysiem ia ibia couniry before Uio dale ot Ibu diacovcry,
Lkgekds or DsviLS Lake. — Tbere is n slory of tiie lake nliicl) oi
tlie orlpu (if iiB ladiaa iiHm«, Mia ae—\Vnukan ^mysterious waier. It is eaid
Iliat liierc was once, mnay winlera ago. a ttrnbls twUie rau){hl tberc Tbe cod-
leadiag warriors, oa either side, as iliey slew one anollier, pitctied Ibe dead
don-u over Ibc cragi^y walls into tbe deep water ualil Dearly all. oa Imth eides,
Iiud either fallen into Ihc crevices, or were holping to till a watery grave. The
sigbt was ED borriblc Ibat the Indiaus ever after avoided tbe place. Tliey say
■ hut llic voices of tbe dead could be beard, aad even when tiiey passed along
Itieir trail, on Uiu oiber side of the tnouutaius, the souads haunted them. TIm
wnli-r was tboiighl to bave liecome imbued with mysterious powers, for wlib "
K'uann Ibe ludians w.ll never drink the water, nor en l or touch tbe fisb fr~
tiie lake.
EavPTiAN 81TEB.— The Bloalbly Expositor for Sept., 1880.
by Cimou Rawlinson on Biblical Topography. The identity of "PIiIioib''
■■PuTuin," ■'Helioplis,' with Ibe niins Tel el Miisiioulah, in sliawn by ~
Thu rulas are fouud ou the nndcnt ciaal between the Nils and the Re«l Spa,,
the Cairo Suez canal aod railway being located In tbe samo valley. The
chief Trmaina arc contaiaed within a square en closure about 233 yards long
eitoh way. The ancient Temiiiem of the preat lomple of Turn, one of Uie
Egyptian Bun Oodx, built liy Runias<!S II M. Naviilo found in 1888. a num-
ber of square chambers wiiich liu believed to be store chambers or graneries.
It is manialncd thst not a bnckiu the whII orin tbe excaraicd cbamitei '~'~
the entire mound which covers a spare of 10 acres but ibal it was pr
niDilelod by Israclil<^ lianda. The identily of Ancient Zonn with "Tnn-ia'
Oreekx. Modem "San" is also sliown. This region Which is now so desolsl
once boasted 14 prac.ful obelisks; a temple built with pink gi'HDlIc from
quarries of Syene; cannlsricbin flsb, sea uoing shiiM. Tlie "field of ~
was plensnnt to live in at the tima when R-.Lmasc» It lived. It wad on th« mM.
or Tan-is branch of the Nile. Tlie discovery by SI. Naville brings op the difi
fereiil scenes througb which this ciiy pusscd. reminding one of Ibu Ijti. '
the exoilus and tbe niiurni licence of Hits dynasty of the Egypliiins
Ulvmpia. — Tbi discovfry of tbe statues by Alkameaes in the Olyropini. .
Altis, was one of ilio inlvrestiug rcsiilis ut the explomtiouof Euroiwan Arclt-
arologists some Qve years ago. These works were said lo be very clum^ Hud
the explanation was given that the artlsfa such as Pbeidius and AJkameoM
< inly mild e models and left the details of tbe work to atone cutters, aod th«
Btoiic cutlers of Olympia were poor workmen. We bad expected that tills ex-
planation wimhl be laid aside hut Mr, J. U. Wright in bis mauiial of / ~ ' " ''
ology recently puhliahcd. docs not correct it. lie. on the other bund. 1
ihc old story that Pheidlaa was tbe sculptor of tbe statues on
Alkaracnes on the west pediment of the Parthenon. This is ddI probable I
the Olympian Centaura and Laplthi are the real works of Aikamcnes.
—Tbe Japanese have many idols wbicta perpets
nled their supcrsliliona. Immruso figures of the "Wind Pipe," tbe '*Thuoda
Cat," tlic WcHsel. which raHy be called (be Accident Qod. the tortoise tfa« gOL
of drowuin;!. as well as many divinities that are more spoi'livc. A short skeict
of some-ot these folk tales may be found in Overland Mouthly for H
from the pi'U of Helen S, Thompson.
I
KOTBB Om AMERICAN ETHNOLOaV. 881
vilkseK of tlie Mi>qul ladlaDs. Tbo reason for Belcctine Hucli an Isolated
lieigul for Ilieirbomc U a problem. Some eny that tlic Moouis were orliciO'
ally u war-like pi^oplo and built tLqir villages on lliis iniicceaBble place in order
tliat tliey might more easily withstand the altiicks of Ibclr many foes.
The Bus Dajjcb Amono the Cubes.— Thia is somelimcs called tbo Greni
Thirst Dance. The lent. 40 feel in diumelcr. decorulcd funlaslicully. ■'Sledj-
cine Pole" in theuentrc. nrcbesim of fifteen lointonu at tbe door; two Medi-
cine Men blowing n whistle, a circle of wnrnors fully dressed, in lUe centre:
one warrior ad VHDces, oarraiea bt^ exploits. Iniiiailoii of briivca follows in
the usual way; dancing about the pole suspended at the end ot a rope with
skewers run tbroiigh the flesh. — Caniulinih Record of Seienoe, Vat. II. jVo, 1
p. S3.
Beotiiuk Indiass,— This la n tribe in Nowfoundhnd; wintering place upon
the Exploits Kiver, forming a race by themxclvM. R. Q l.ntbam has aduced
sninc piirallels of Bnotbuk with Tiatje dialects but dues not hold 10 no aflliilty.
Nnt tbo least affialiy Is Ireccabiu between Bcothulsand Iroquuia. It muien--
setnbles llie Mickniaek than any otlier Algonquin tongue. The Mickmuekj
lived on ilie same island. Theru is a grcnt discivpnuey in ethnologic particu-
lars such OS cuuocs. dress, iinpleineuis. niaaiier«. iiud cuatoms. bctwei'U IbcsQ
peuple and any other. They are deciiledly insular in their tbiiruclerlsts. A.
S. Gatschet. ia Pmr, iif Aiiwr. Phil. ftiw. p.411.
The Sblish Sawia LANQUAGEn. — The Scllsh orflnthead tribe of Indians
located in North Western Montana, numliera about ISO souls. The country
abounds with same. A vocabulary of tbe hingu'igc is plvcn.
The Eawta w spoken by a tribe ori the south fork of Tule River in Ciilifor-
nia. The Induins occupy log dwellinfts. manufacture basket ware from
Btnindsof long grass, niuiio cavities In tbe boulders for mortars, pound acorns
into meal, Tbcy resemble the Puh-Uies, They practice Tbe aweat baih, Jinve
under gi'ound B weal boui^ea measuring S fcot in diameter, and 4 feel high.
"•-— -■- "icir prin.ilivo rites in secret. Vocabulary given,— i)/". If. J.
I 3G1-37B,
They (
NOTES ON AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY.
The Deri TATios or BusquEii anna, —Several coullicling derivnllons of this
river name have becu proposed, somcof which Ihavemtntiuoed in Thel<niip«
and th»r Ltgtndt. p. 14, Ti icy are doubtless all wrong, a.t lb e etymology (riven
me by Ikc native Delaware, the Rev. Albert ^. Anthouy. in a recenl coiivcrsa-
lion, would seem buyoud question lo be the simpleat and most obvious. The
name us as be wrote it in lUo English orthography is Atluteth-qvahnat The
Ik ia the peculiar siblilant of tUe Leitape compounded of Lhu « and Ihe soft Ih,
and by the Moravian missionaries waa alwnys render.<d by the ». Tbe word
means "■iho river with Ibe muddy bottom,'' or with muddy water.
The Asthuopoloot of Guiana.— Dr, Ten Kale, whose researches on the
native tribes of our Western Territories have already been mpntioned in tite
Am. A^Tl4CAKT.tK, bus -been epeuding ibu lust year iu Ouihu'l and the
adloining cimutries, tn the former be took careful mea^^uremcuts of 160 natives
beloniing lo various tribes of pure or mixed blood, examined them with reference
to llieir color sent« and lo tlie hue of their skins, etc. They did not niarketlly
differ in lioight, the Warroua being as (all ns tbe Oarlbs. contrary lo the state-
raeots of previou' travelers. The muscular p'twer ot nil was inferior, a remark
prcvtnusly made by Mr. Im Tburn. A recent letter sent me by Ihe last named
able ethnologist slates Ibat he has recovered his health and resumed his.aiud.es
and travels in British Guiana.
9K THE AMERICAN AXTIQUARIAX.
THxT«nBKorTiEKiiiiEi.Pri»o.— laaiw^TkiQSDoeeiatfccJdN-
j&iuri->-7>r«<ifv'A i'i.in^^3r fx- X T. l*•^y Mr. J. G. G*j*3b
irsEbre- cf ai"«tsdix ffcr^* Ab-«: ibe Tmnoa* tribes w5>:> cvvfi za tbii
TV <kis»* cd k? «Ka*rE cv-wfS mv i»r«^ ftsd BOBrakr m£9L vtcjt ike
c ' lit jos:! ant ss&I] mad cf f«*iijf pihTsiftfcl ccresnl. Tb^y
.-*^- -^ V
iJiT.zas- tzt s.izf*3 !:> ic-xx Lwc ir"o ■:_•
:i-«L ir-o cIoKT &:::ifc=k?fr wri ti*t JIcKSBfiu
J
.-ip.-*: Sxo-iT. Stui XV. H-f-. ;:. D- 3* KA::i5r:iii>d; t
ILiir> L"^ fimj;:^!*! .r r;:* Lai lit* MiVnu: :ijx:*fr r^;»:»fi -t. Tia*
Xi-ai*ttir-Li. I: *T'~:i*'fi i.: X:r*":i :t ?ai;i _ •■■- : r-rr. tt- 1-X~*1IX- i^^'-
J .
^'
>:•:!»; ^3 r^ rSoi Zlir^amiiii ii£s:'TJ:«*i --ir* :-':?: re" -i** Tin*. 7— sinfoc a
"znf-j ir^ i.cn *.: j** 5»:r:iniiink T*!*^ li^ :ir*:r:-ii-:: r :i I'Ln rtfrfi joii irt
:t zm 1 *r"mi::-i.
Tr"Tn r»" J'"^:i.i 3i»a. "^i»">^ z :'-«>^- n Aiif.-r'ti.i T ' :• ,:"" '■'• »i-»i. mu&* iiHL
u»; 2. 7-:- Xi."*r';ni l Ztj.t- ■ c~ H.- TriTi: t-... -_■ : -'.^iifr-i n^-^i sikk
::r^-r -: = j»- Z.-»:3:' * "^ .i -i;s? :: ' ♦:■» :«-.--. ^ . z T^m:!^ ixnHitf
-:.»:•* iz»i i."-^. iniL 'r.>:^i ":s.i i o z "i. ;.:■:-.• i :
NOTES FROM TOE PAR EAST. 883
media, tboiigk the greater part of it remains in manuscript. I mav mention
tlie following articles as showins: the scope of his re*>earche3: Die jEnkhno de$
Baffia- Landes, a lectiire delivered at Hainburq^ in 18S5; R^ise in BiiiaLande,
in tlie Proceedinsfs of the Berlin Geosfraphical Soctely, 1885; Languayt of the
BeUaCooUi Indians, in the Proceedinars of the Berhn Anthropological Society;
and a paper on Artie Exploration in the Popular Science Monthly. At present
Dr. Boas proposes making a special study or some of the tribes in Vancouver
Island, and we may look iforward to excellent results from his wurk.
Native Tribes OF Venezuela.— In the Kthnnhgischsn MUiheilungen of Berlin,
JIfft*S, there is an enumeration of tlie Indian tribes of Venezuela by Dr. J. 8.
Hartmann. He counts as many a« ninety-nine, mostly of Carib and Cliibcha
lineage. Their locations and their numbers according to the mo 4 recent
authorities are added so tlial the table is a pecul'arly valuable one to thi student
of Columbian Ethnology. vThe writer adds thit the am ilgamalion of rices
has Uiken place even more than usual in Venezuela, and that tribes of unmi.xed
blood nre to bo found scircely anywhere except m the eastern districts of the
Republic.
Rinxon's Nahuatl Grammar — Under the auspices of Dr. Antonio Penafisl
the government of Mexico has published tlie Grammar of Fatlier Autotiio del
Rincon, tlie first edition of which appeared in 1595. The author was a half
breed and claimed descent from the former rulers of Tezcuco. As at ttiii
center of ancient learning the language is said to have been spoken in its
greatest purity, his work has some peculiar claims to attention. It will, how-
ever, prove rather disappointing to serious students of the tongue. As an
analysis of the gramatical structure it is much inferior to the admirable work
of Father Olmos. written half a century before, and which is accessible in the
convenient edition edited in 1805 by M. Remi Simeon. Nevertheless, all in
this line of researcli will be glad to s'?e this early discussion of the principles of
Nahuatl grammar rendered acccrfsible.
J
NOTES FROM THE FAR EAST.
BY PROF. JOns AVERY.
Some Rude Tribes of Southern Yunn.vn and Upper Burma andSiam.—
In the last number of this Journal we described the rude population found
amons: the mountains of Western China — chiefly in the provinces of Szu-chuan
and Northern Yunnan. We will now turn our steps southward, and stud^ a
similar population, which is spread over a wide region of country, embracing
Southern Yunnan and Northern Burma and Siam.
The Tat race represents the largest and most widely-dispersed population
of the Indo-Chinese peninsula, and embraces. l)esides the Khamtis and Ahams
of Assam, the Siamese, the Laos of the highlands north of Siam, and the
Sbans of Upper Burma and Southern Yunnan, it is of the last two divisions
that we shall speak particularly.
The name Tai, which is the common designation of the whole people, is of
doubtful signification. The Siamese aspirate it. Hiai or Thai, and give it the
meaning *free." The words Siam and Sh»\n have been derived by some from
the Sanskrit cjyama, "brown;*', but they are probably older than the beginning
of intercourse with the Sanskrit-speaking people. Professor Terrien De Lacou-
perie suggests a derivation from s/utnj "trader," a characteristic occupation of
this people.
The Tai seem to have lived in China at a remote period, and to have been
true aborigines of that country, in comparison with the intrusive Chinese and
certain Ural-Altaic tribes. There are liints in Chinese tradition which with
much probabilitv fix their primitive home, many centuries before the Cliristian
era, amon<r the Kiulung mountains, north of the Yan-tze-kiang river. With
the growing power of the Chinese, who were settled in northwestern China,
the ruder population was in part absorbed by the superior race, bit in greater
384 THE AMEIUCAX ANTIQUARIAN.
pirl pr»**:'l '*,mMnr.inl nrr.><^ tli? greit rivor, winrc f>r C3nturie« tUsy sue-
iV'»'»fiiliy r's:'*loii furrlior uttempt:^ at subjir^^it on. However, ili^ subtle
inrtiKMuv of :i his'i'^r (MviU7.itu>:i \vi* li»*< oa* ly birred out; and Cliine.4e aita
AUxl rj*iiiii!i.vH p.»n 'miivl w'.kto C'liiaeso :inn<*b;id failed. It U lo thU eariy,
.•w woU .Hs liUT. inrorooiirst.'. d-Mibtle^s. tbii is to \>2 ascribed much that is
wnin VI to III.* iw.i p.'opkw in lmj:u ire and custom
Tlu* do-iv\lin's of t lo-k* oirlii^jii s.»iilTi still f.irn aa in^,?dieat in llie
lop.ihit'uvi of ib.» provin(>»8 of Yuna:iTi. Ivw.ia^si. an 1 Kwani^-tun<;; and are
k'l.^.vu to ih;* H jr a»«.' r.s S iin T ly.vi-j ^ Tin^x-* or CUin -^ Sliias. and to the
Chi:i:"«<* a< \\v. A f:ir;U'»r mnoin.'n: of lh» T^i s>utb\vard ani westward
fi\^:n iii.» N'lTil/ uplm U of Yunam in:o tU; ric'.i vallev of the I-nawiili. accel-
or:iU\i. no vl ^uM. bv p«';'s*;iro fr> n th-.» n.^rtii. s^?al'i i'> hive occurreil as early
as III* iVh vvatury IV i' . if wo oai b.^.ievo lb » Barmew chronicle*. Tbe Shans.
as wo m;:s: n;»\v oili ;hoai nrov \l s:r^a;jr tbia tb? Barmes-*, who had
ilrkM Jy on:ori^J:bt» v,i!;oy; aa.l. ilr:v;n* '.U.'ti s..va;hw.ird. established l!jems-lve3
.-w :^;» ','» i-rn v.m; p n\\*r owr all R jr:u i. aa i even b?yoa.i In the S:li rcntur}'
A l'^ . .1 sv:i.«a of ;u.» Slua-! nii.ii* Jia i,T:p"'..^a iav-* tlir valley of t!i«? Brabma-
r;;:ri. *.; I Ivi*:*. :\\\ o.v.;:M:ioa .'f ti;.i: rj:n^:o ;\ir; .^f Bri:is!i India which hi*
vv.i: .: :>: v.*. ;or :h; ntni- of \*nra i"» :h:- pr-^:::* liy. A: :he ::me -^f their
CA r '. . .'-i : N - : I a ,• -, : r : 1 1 .: -an i f n » ; :,: ^ v .- v "p . r: .^ : • f : b- 1 r b ^ : orj* . t ?i o S!ian<
*»\'r, :.^ ■;,>,■ >\ *"* *'^-C:*- us .^f p.:y :?."..> : * - .U^.-^riia: i » *f •r:n a cl"»5e
ir .: : V -:n » r. :- :• : ■.: :*. . ^ : T ais *.■ >. ; ~ i ; : r. *: : \ w .; . j : *.'. >r. .z* to : a .- mo? as a
w/. '. :*-*Ai.'*v i\y.4::<i \'\- .. r. *-: .:i..-.-r*,. .- -ii-;-:: o^^i'.ii'i a: ihe
T^rrsk' .: I .> . Ws^ L.-.^r. :;'..:a\: ■^' :";; --. .: S-i-i s:-cU"^£n of P.^n^r. winch
^ . » , 7." , V . ^. . .* ^. ..- * » »> ^ : . i .-. *. ^ . . .-.- -.T^ «A » ".. Ill* %ia$-
*•>..' *^ *%v S.-\a ,:>:.^'-.-; ; - ; r.y :> vr •. -v ;-: -.-::-rra ::« o\>:face.
«• « «■* ■-•* ^^ .
^^•••- -'^^ .*...^**. . < *-.- ■.•«••• •- -••^ *— ...~. . ^.M\ -» ' . t.itr 1 Ml
ttk^. -. . • -N ^ . ■>^ . . . « f .. ^. "T ^* . . , . j»i _■: . .-.r^ ■. i. _,:i » a** .m^
»"•■*• ••■■----v'''^*'"'^* ~i -■- -• -^ -->~A. ^■.•r • ->. • ■ — t— " ' ,-• nil %
^•.*..". • - : ' ; ; . ••,:.'».; r.c. *- s * . -■- :' V .. . -.i- -« ..: i;- ■ - : -r^-^r? f "sr • is:wirJ
■-•:• V V- "i T. •. •* ».^ ^ i-i >. .. - :l -; vi- :_• S-:.-- -r.>5e.
:i.- ," . * :' *\ :: . ;1 > . x. , « ,". -. -. T. . L-. s r-'-.r.-r? v-t a-^w
:--..-5-. ->x'-. .-■,■,•:;. .. T'-"-- ■■•.:?■.. -,:- T..:- I---*are
:* v : ■■ ■ / :■. ■ ■ : . • \. ^ •:-.-:.: -:r B i.:* - -* ^aJ
W • . . . ..>^ ^ - ■ - V* - .- . - - . - .^- .. - ' ' » Z " a • ' TA'T
T'.'. 7 .■>■-:.*■■.•..■ • . - ~i.:-:'i :.- : z ^-mz
.:^.>.- - -V I* r \ ■ •* :^ .- " . . - : >•« . - •■: ." . : :.,: . : : :.- j 1 :< :>-;r
■*. : '* k<^ V ..: > ^-^ ^.■■. V \*^,- ■^: - : 1 :.;,-;? f iJ.rn . uzi
T: • » : .'^ 5 '■ ^ • /. >..... :., --.'..■ • -r-T : :Lrir
■ '-; : ^ ?■ T. : • * -: ' - - - ? - : 1. .- . -^ _ .^ Is
" • : ' ^ . ^" ^ :?. ^ . ~: - • -^ 7 . ~i •. . - u* y -*^iy
»■■■"'■ i ' '^>' :■."■":• - ■ '« . ■■ . :,«^ 1.7."" i . -
.'•'•- ' ^ . "^ ~ ■' ■ * •• ' ■• ■ : - Zip- ^. .— fse
^•.■. "» ";"<.■ .'■"•>i'" ■" . "• - - - ,, "■ _^ _^j
:■-■■■ — • ^ 1---T.:._ --.i^
NOTES FROM THE FA.R EAST. 8BS
ts of ti simns^r r.ice, Tlii;y are divitloil into nuiuerous dnns, aait n
K n-Kbyan is mure likulytoiileiilify tiimsvlf byiliCDnmoof liUcUn tliau liy ihe
^^eral lenn for tlie punple. Our b*»l dtwcrjpiion of ibe Ka-Kbyens Is ty Dr,
pidcrsoit.wbOBCCompitniudtlteSladQnexpMliUooto Yunnan in 1866. Id pbjrsi'
Ji appearance hu omened iwa qulie ilisilnct lypea, — tbe noe cborncterixMl by-
Behort, round face, higb chMk'boats, h^vy, proirudlng )>p«. broHd aaac, law
nliend'anil aquiire chin, lliu olbuc tiy a I'mger face, pointud cliin dcctrted
'iquily of the oye, and in fwnctnil greittcr (Inlicac:y of oiiillne. TlicM
U wuuM iodicatv cc)i]3i::erublB inicrmixtaro, liy wblcb the primilivu lypo liU
□ moditlMl ill Vttriotis degKo*. In cbaracler tbcy arc penccuble
i receh-e strangers with liospiiAlity: but ibey luck maul^ cournge. and
-ji wrongnl, arc apt lo seok ruvenga by BWaltli. Tlioy faitly well cover
...r bixlim with clotbos, wbich thuic wodihii wcnva on rude laoois hold In
nlap. Tbelr bouses are conatmcLoil mucli like tbo«s of bill tnlica generally.
EccpltlialKcutlrHlopine ground nilbertliMn a steep hillside is chosen as u a lie.
Kbey are from 100 to SOOfevt long bySO Io40 fnct broad, and are set od piles
II 3 feci above Iho ground. Id from is a dei'p portico, wliero the domesUc
~ '~ are housed at iiigbt. A partilion runs tbrouf:b the middle t«ngtb-
id on cither Hide are tbc ap.irtmentsof tli.^ inmaics. who may consist of
rclatEil famlliss.
V^' Women amnng tUcIfii-Kbyeuqnrcestocmednceor'liai; t^ Ibc de^ircc in wbiclt
^ley contribute to Iho support of tb i family. They perform not only the
WUKUoUI dutiua. but nUo the drudgery iu tbu fields; whlb their lord* Iuiin2«
nd emuke. ur go oIT on trading or marauding expeditions. Marrlugo,
rhicU Is Drranged by lbs parties most concerned, bos one Intereatlng ft^uture,
Tbicb seems a survival from the lime wb«n brides were obtained liy cnpliire.
s the day before the wedding, five young men and women from Ibe bride'
Room's Tilluge tiomc and take a hou^ adjoining Ihe bride's. After ni>;hifidl
Kgirl brings her to the rendezvous, without tbo knowledge of Iter jpurenis; and
fcilier the psrty set off on their return. Havlug reached the liouso of the
Idegroom, the future wife is concealed in a cloth canopy, coaaimcied for
^ purpose near by. In the mornin); stime old men arrivn from the bride's
Hllag;e, and inquire for a girl who has been missing since Ihe uight btfiire.
"bey are advised to ncarcb the canopy; and, Laving found ber Uicre. say ibat
e appears to be well off. and bad belter remain. The wedding can now pro-
,Jed, which consists of propliinlory oSenngs to tlie spirits, gifts from the
jridcgnxitn to the bride and her friends, and ecnernl meriy-making. A widow
■ expected to become the wife ofone of tier Lirolbcrs la-law.
The authority in a Ka-Khyen vlllnKe or clan ia vested in a cblcf and certain
inferior olBcers, called Pawmlnes. Tbc dignity in both casus Is hereditary.
The principal duly of the Pii\viniaeii is to settle disputes among the people,
The Ks'Kbyen calendar is rudely computed b; the recurrence or ilio harvesta.
The year beipns with the iasaiherlng of the rice in December, and extends
unliTllie ne.xi crop is npe. Their ngricullure is mostly eonflned lo tbc rude
cnltlvatlon of clearings in the forest, which we have often refeired to,
when describing other tribes; and Ihcir tool for nil work is the dali, or hill-
kmie. called doo in Assam, Slavery eiiKls among Ihem, the victims liemg
BYdr the niost pari taken from plundered HlniJu villages on tbc eastern border
■TW AasBiu.
, The KaKbyena bnvc never l>ecn converted lo Buddhism, but Iheir faith
mil remains at tbe anainislic stage. Tbey pmpiliute by offerings a variety of
ood and evil spirits, whnm ibey call nSls. und to wboni they ascribe an oxeu-
r lo every no'ewurlhy event «I iheir cx|>criciice. One of these spirits they
Mnvate to a position supeiior to lliat of Iii<t fellows, and regard liim as the
fc r*aior of nil ibinj;s. In ihis we illscovcr u dim npurcben-ion of a Sunreme
[sBelns. Tliey believe in a life itfler denlli. nnd iu places of reward and pun-
Ishmcni. to which men nre nllntlcd, not only according lo cliaracier. but quite
as much according lo accidental clrcumslunci's. For example, women who
dhf in pregnancy, and men who are killed br the d^ no with ihe wicked to
Uie Ka Kbyen bell. There Is no regular priesibood among them, but any one
_|nay cxercive thu pricsily functions who nianifest a special nplliudc for them.
^ The Ka-Kbyens burj- ibeir dead, and conduct Uie hist rites wlib much cere-
— iy, and many precautions, Ibe grand design of which ii to prevent the
38$
THE JlMERICAN AXTIQUARIAX.
«^Ht) t^r ihe «Wc««ui^ from nrtaniia* to vex his r«laUTe». The bodj is
ia th'^v cKhIm^ f«.»1 is 04rer«\l iL aa-l a pi-c* of silwris laid ia itsaMoll
i;^ i\9ivi;ju^« owr tlK* riwr (o tii:^ spine lami The lauicittge of tkts people ii
«ua :o belv^a^c in t\\^ Tibe:^Burmta froup. bat at prrwn: its cftwacicr u
vt^A ^^\WTi vith suAcieat e3Eacsaes» to penni: aa authoriiatire
In va^t lia^ Uf^a sft:U aN>n». aIia?i>Mi has been nuhde to:
v^ ti^ ^wrau fv .putMim* of Farther lodU. Ia tkv of the obsearnw. chas tfiC
nfKs s^t :ji^« subxv;. :&= I the socxkevbi: cosflidin; optBK»s of icho£ar» a^^ lo
:iw >cvvT ^>f ; Ijesse «k»T«»: c:>, sooae fur I>er errMaaaivrvi mar be i£«f«L Ii » aow
JUto
Kxiars.' i>.: Araicacse. :.\r«ier w".:h soca* wtM ifiLcsia iJb
MfdtJrr hfcsia^— w:as :^» i-ss :^ s^f-::!-* ia :be pieaiK::.^. if we exre|
I J*? Ni-^r \>?w •ix''^ Ls>ci-rs j^-^ :>: w ii :lie r<A=»i* of 'he Arc^^u&j
*5*i^*»:c»I>v il^' •uir.-.ot :ni:::v\:;5. :* «. I now r«c"» dwxfO:
ti*^ *vci:r> ^-^ Piir- wj;s s..." -=ofc :!■* *<:i.
0>.-c^i rc*«*.'^»'T att'tr-**- sTL-'.i*w:«i*. j -r^^ ".if.'^r >••=.^ Te:r.'»* :( "j
Y it: Jul. m-yvi u«i^ CriTuij .-o.-'.Twi rrr*t; f-c.*^ Tjh: ".it* Birsn-K : ~
jic- ji.-xr Utf ATtcaj^fsf. «-:L3af f-.*ci t-iu w^sc se* a* izi»c rc-:ca.:u* frn
:>>< :a-*:a c-'c* .*«: Ui* ^^-si***. "wi" ■ r'"-i«.'^ '.'2>t bir* * 'jrcr ittttiI jz tie 4ti
•Jitf T.t -. r* r^ii^r.i.M a» ld5««'-» r^ •;" rr^i. *, i:nf if'ji "JLtz -'ut S i. sul x race
*"a.Tiv ■'-.•lit v^L.T^ :t -uj 2<iiL -^-i: • u--iiLrL Ttttut 3i rr* t^^t-^ut he
T'.iJ»«:> 3^"ma.i> ,*a.st; f*:in u«i X'-r i ~-i*:iLn ik tw:^s;^ :i! ui* E-:iii£j* '^ *^^
^rT»ii«».-7 «rrrj»i r»Bsr»*L.'-: i: ~lif iuasT .c" Ui* It* tit. _
» .i» liK k/. -xi:r':> ?».• ^fft ~h: !^»*hl tjii UK .<ti LTL f in:*ii::3:r c» fic*«?Qr:^
a> If *<a*a.i^ .c i-w ,~ i:j>' J :'■":: jr at--" lt»:*. ^:I-:-z rc'wiT»:n> lini i4
/if :s,*iju".i-i? "^iiL "vi.— i^j^L. liZ r»*i:»* i.:».'''>L >.iix»i "»". rr?-. 11: •:
% o^ ,r: U« xiiit:*- luj^: ?^ CfsftM- r»; Ijl :,:vri- r.r.i* ni.-*> re iiKyr
vrv .X \T>*u-T JX-iu. «^': ,"i.2»'. ^ •->> ra.-'- .:i:=r :.— — 1^ a 3lu iix. w«
>" iVI?*?*T-i^ -•-•^- .":".* '-
I
mm m ^iA * * * - « *
i:i>-« •'!::.
I i > ■
v,." i%:»\;ru:i:
^•. -c -^Vi
3 Te --^ .a.
BOOK REVIEWS. 387
liiiiiil, imd «n nxo. TLi« nmiind Imri lieen ciitlorcil in nn Ini-xp^l
r eomo iwi'iiiy j'l-iirs ago, na wliidi occasion iis mosi clutniclcrilsiir feit-
I'cre iniicli iiijiirctl udiI in «omo insluncc* ullcrljr oblUcruietl.
M, Bi>HKKMEnG]]e>'inu(k-ii ftohceor t^xplnrniloDs in ilio preliislorlc litiriul-
h>laci;iiia rlit^ Lowt-r Alps, Umliai; tkniODgoUier objvcrs, uuiU-r twAds. uDdincln-
KrnU-il (nignifiiU,
BOOK KEVIEWS.
-(Mtelioju of the MhiiukU, UMurirol S^UIg. Vu.'. 5.
Si. Pniil. Minn,, In 188S.
Tbia Kwiety I'ns liten fortiinalu In wcurinn a» n gifi fmm a foiiiiir U. 8.
■fiuoaior, Henry M. li\cv. n nmnuscripi IilHinrv of Uio UJi><w»ya buseil upoa.
^mdiiioos and oid siatcmenls. irallirred by Ihu laU- Win W, Warrt-n. nu
EducatLil and cliriatiiLn hnll-brced. nlio etwiit ttiu mo^t o( Ilia lite in rnuuct
■rilh tlicK induiia. uuil uliu wu» i^xtuedin^ly fond of lliclc iiadilionaiy liilc
lad wvll Infonned in llieir bislory und customs
Mr. Warren was a d«8ccndiml of Itltfliurd Warren, one of llie Mny Flower
^Rgrims. His father van a imder, fanner iind anil snbagrnl tu tlie Ojib inys.
'on tlic Clilppcnn :lvrr, Dis innilicr wub three- four iba IndiHti, bring a diiiccnd-
ani of ilie C'udolle, on old Frencii and lodiaa family, ton;; rotidunt nmnng tiio
OJibwaye, llu nns a pupil nt tbo ludiDn Hdiool tit Ln PulnIP, Ibcn iiiidiT ilii}
cluu-gf of Rev, Mr. nmitwell. of IUb A. B. C F. M., ofierwards. in If 43.
Utt>ndcd >lic Oncidn InHlilute undfr tbe cliurjrc of Rev. Urinh QrK'ii. Ho
pnturned ami ^ru» for a liinj; liitie IndiuD JDtorprctcr amnn^ Ilie Ojiliwnys.
le sflrrnatd moved to Two Cities. MinaeBOin, und waa elected to tliu IIouso
if HepretentntivcsinlSSI.
Wbtle n rncmbpr (>f llio House bu wrote n scries of itrtlcles for tbc Minnesota
it, nod WHS rnconrHgcd by Col. D. A. Robi-rtson. tbcediior, to wrlio
nbonl t tie Ojib way «. In tbo pteparailon of bis book lie w.lh iniicb
ibamwoct for ilic wnnt of tbe works of otbcr atiibors, as there were ilieu no
tbllc libraries in Minncsoin. He completed bis manuscript, but funnd
llfficully ID sccurinc a publisher. He died in 1833. but bis munuscrlpl fell
"iibe bands of Mr. Itice, wni preserved, and is now ^ivcn to lUe public
Icr Uie Ruspici-s of tbe Mianesoin Histnricut Bovlely. It embraces a lijetory
Iho OJibways, but (loos not dwell upon tbr tnytbs, customs, irndiiions.
~'oufi riKis or ncTlons of this romarkiiblo people,
. Warren's inlention wns to prepare a series of books on Ibcse subjects.
rtunately ibeso are lost io ibc world by bis curly death, (be died m ibc
ojte of twenty -uiglil) No onu was Inllcr prepared U> furnisb Informuiiou
c myilis and irnitiiions. as t>e bud, from « boy, been nccuslomed to bear
troni ibe chiefs, and fully understood ibeir sisnillcauce, Tlic few who
ilercBied in liie myibs and cuslvms of ibe nuiivc triU's. will rMlixc iiow
:iuble Guob u book as tbia wmtld bavo lieen . Il is very dilUcuU <o£et access
tlw natives and in draw out from them tb«ir traditionary lore. Tlie brief
d accidental interviews which public offlclnls at Wouhlngion hove with the
lef^ ara certainly poor substiiiites for Ilie close intimncy and lifo-litng
millarlty wiib these things, which sudi n man ns Mr. Warren iiud. Ad
Dtnge should be taken promptly of every »ucb cnsc, and tbc men wliu
tt Uemselves to llic study of such oubjecls. sboidd be encoiimired.
■"^e bi«lt opens with a description of Ibe "Toiem System," which hn«
fa prevailed among OJlbways. Itlscousidercdns u fundamental system,
nblu to tlie Kvneaiogicid relation ships, and not as a mere arbltrarv system.
IS liowever been modified the "ecnics" iiavln^ been divided and now to-
la having U^n tnken. IiiafeweaM'Sibe"Ken(es" liave been Bl>sorbcd nM
ir loteiuslinve lu-en combined with iboseoCoiber funics, very much asltuv.
- H. Beaudmmp aays is the case wiib Ibe Iroquois tribes. Tbcre nro now
itveaty-one badges orioi cms. tliougb originally ibcre were only livdi
[ Tlie name v( lie orl^nnl gcaie^, or families, were in Eagllab, ibo Great
.888 THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN.
Fisb. the Crane or (Comaker,) the Marten, the Bear, and the Wolf. The Bear
family wua more numerous than any, forming more than one-6ixth of
the entire tribe. The Wolf family was few in number, but the Crane wast
large clan. There seems to be an opinion that the clans partake of the nature
of the animals whose name they bear, the bear being ill-tempered, the crapci
having loud voices, the loons wearing wampum around the necrk resembliM
the white collar of the loon, and the fish family being extremely long-lived.
The martin, moose, and reindeer totems, arc included under the gcncnc term
-of **Monsonceg."
The name of the Ojibways means "pucker." It is supposed to be derived
from the peculiar pucker of the moccasin, but the author ascribes it to another
source, namely: to roast till puckered up, referring to the treatment of
•captives.
The origin of the Ojibways, the author traces to the lost tribes. In tills he
will probibly not be followed, even if lie says, the convicton has been forced
upon him by the constant observation of the resemblance of the notions
and religious conceptions of the Ojibways; and those contained in the Bible.
It is remarkable that other persons besides Mr. Warren have maintained that
there are among this tribe, traces of a former high stale of religiuus thought
They refer to traditions about the * 'ancient'* puople, etc., us if these were
indications of a former advanced state, and their testimony is certainly worthy
•of consideration.
The migrations of the Ojibways are recorded in a speech to which Mr.
Warren listened, in which the figure of a sea shell symbolizes the Medawe
religion. The speech was as follows:
*• While our forefathers were living on the great salt Vvatere toward the
rising snn, the great Megis (sea shell) showed itself above the surface of the
great water, and the rays of the Hin for a long period were reflected from its
glossy back. It gave warmth and light to the An ish-inaub iig (red race.) All
at once it sank into the deep; aud lor a time our ancestors' were not bles«ted
with its light. It rose to the surface and appeared again in the great river
which drains the waters of the Great Lakes, aud again for a long time it ijave
life to our forefathers, and reflected back the rays of the sun. Again it disap-
I)eared from sight, and it rose not, till it appeared to the eyes of tlic An ii^h in-
aub ag on the shores of the first great lake. Again it s<ink fnuu sight, and
death daily visited the wigwams of our forefathers, till it showed its back, and
reflected the rays of the sun once more at Bowe-iing. (Sault Ste. Marie.)
Here it remained for long time, but once more and for the last time it disap-
peared, and the Anishin aub ag was left in darkness and misery, till it floated
and once more showed its bright buck at Mo ning wun a kaun-imr (La Pointe
Island), where it has ever since reflected back the rays of ihe sun. and blessed our
ancestors with life, light and wisdom. Its rays reach Ihe remotest village of
widesprend * 'Ojibways. *'
The wars of theOjibway^are recorded in tlie fifth, eighth, ninth, and twelfth
chapters. These wars were carried on with Foxes. O-dug ainu-w(H'g, (Ou-
tou gamies). who were at first situated south and west of Lake Superior on the
Chippewa river. Battles were fought near La Poinie, on the spit of land
which may be seen south of the point, and on the main land, near ihe
mouth of the Mont rial river, agam on the head waters of the 6t. Croix, and
Chippewa rivers, where six villages of the Foxts were destroyed, and a^rain
upon the Wisconsin river, to the head waters of winch the Foxes had fletL
These wars drove the Foxes to the Fox river, and to the lower part of the
Wisconsin river, where thev Wt^re found at the bei^iuninii of tliis century.
Wars were also carried on with the Dakota's. They were attacked in their
villag<»s on fc^pir*. Lake, again upon the Rice Lakes of the St. Croix river. A
great battle was fought at Point PrescVa. anil Point I)i)Ui:la>s. The Dakotas
of Saudy Lake were also disp>ossessed. Leach Luke was al>o evacuated, and
the Ojibways bt^ca me the iK)ssessors of all the reiriun iunoundiug the head
waters of the Mississippi.
The Ojibwa} s were to a certain extent conneete<l with the Pi>niiac Conspiracy,
butlhty soon withdrew, and the western portion of the tril»e were never
-affected, by that war. After the Pontiac war the Sacs ami Foxes. (Osaukccs).
(Outagamies). joined with the Dakotas in a final struggle, but they were driven
BOOK REVIEWS. S8»
ick from tlii' lieiid-wHicrB of lliu Mlanlsuiipi. nod Ihe Fnxes olmoit cxlennliia'
.^ . Tliis ends Ibc sepurula cxiaicum o( tliu Outogntniea. for Uicy wore uljsorbed
liiin ilie tribe ot ilic Bnuks niid were culled Snuks and Poxes.
Tliu liisTory of ilic Ujlbnajs fr»in iLis itmo on, is wc-ll hnown. TUv only
poinis n'bifli uet-d lu bv dcnred up, nro iLo eiaet dales of tlic appenmiK^c of
Ihr nliiit iiirii niiiun^ ilicm. nml lli« exiici localities where ilic Jcciiit misBions
r !.it.!i=lu'il. It Htipenrs from Mr. Warren's narrallvo. Iliat tbe
' 1,1 „i LnPointc nil the Mudclioc Islande, but oning to tb»
< I in oaUUKpropeDNliesof the medicinemen (nniltropupha^).
■ mid fenred to return, but atier (he Beltlement of Fro eh
.11 III! >-l,>[icl. they did rclurn andestablUhed permanetit villages.
'8iii>ii of dntea is iinporlnnt here. Wsa It [>eforc Ihe Ujibwajs tied
1 tlic islund ibitl iho Jesuit fnihers Altouez and Marquette bi'gan Iheir
.jionT liiii knnwn that Allouez first liullt his chapel of bark between a
Jlage of Pi'tun llurune and n vitliite of Ot'awan on Lbc mnln load at tho
tad of tho bay (Chegounmoigon). Thla was in 100^.
"Ir, Warren does not deny ibis, but does not state where the Ojihways
V It Ihe limei whether un the itiland. on tb« main land, or on their former
iping Ground n( 8nuU Sic. Uarlu. Kcv. Edward Nelll Ibinka Ibat the
«]aii wi.si^labUabvd before lbc Ojlbwn.vahad ri-sehcd Lake Superior. This
Edouhtfu), for ili<^ Dabotna, or flonx Imd occiipteil I bo rejiion about l.^lie
•iperior, end H Is supposed tbey were driven away by the Ojibways, beroro
Jba Huron* found a reireat in Ihiii locality.
■ Tlia Burons bud fled from Ihc terrifying Iroqitoi*. nnil bad bidden Ihem-
Vvea M the remolesi end of this bay. Il is poastblo thai ihuy uboee ibe main
ipd, iHvf erring to baveihe Oiibways lieiweeii thumwlvvs and their enemiea
Etbc isbind. whicti guarded ihe entrance lu the buy. The tnlsgion did not
Bg niDBin berc, but was removed to tbc {inland. The name. La Poinle.
' lu Franquelin's map. 1088, ivaa njipb'ad lo tbo nortb-easi projertion of
1 land lit Ihe eninince of tlie bay. was truneferred to the west part of
padellna iibind, and ibe mission of ibe Holy Spirit was continued on tbia
Uantl.
^The hit'tory n writieu from tbo siand-poio'' of a unlive, It is sirtctiy an
.». .., ]|,^i,,tv —jusiBoth u hiatory as would be exctedingly dtsiratilc, it it
::,.hi i:i>i iiiim all the tribes. It isaiare lH>ok. It may not be as
.: <:(.' ua to dales, ai a profesal onnl historian would write, biiC
: < ii is wriileu b^ one who understood alHbeir history- It la
, i: '. r< -'HIS as a narrntive. and surprises one wliU the ease and
Qt itA nivlc. Tbc hook waa prei>arcd iu 18SS. but has junt licen
Mbludied.
rille is nn inlcresllne inonograph. It illustrutea the methods of arrow
MM arooDK Ibe Nrnllcrrnocana, MouguliaDS, i'crrinus, Assyriaos. Early
iirpttmos. Grecians, and Europeans,
Jnm primary meiboda ot i-elcasc. that is, tbe simplest forms, are practiced
glla AJDOs of Japau. Uie Kiumc^e add sixteen tribes ot American Indians.
HNliat Is Cbllod the "Mcdiirrranean" release is practiced by tbc £s<iuimaux,
^ ibe European nntiiQB. AuotbLt' method colled "Mongolian" Is pmctired
t lite Chinese. Coreans, Turks, and Jnpsneso. Among tbe aiicieuta. tbt<
pilntary" mcibods were used, but Iha •■ Meiliterranean" release was common
MOC Arabians, Indiansjuid Itomana; tbe " Mongolian" aniong Ibe Bcrythiaii
jd^Tsiana. In the middle ages tho ■■Mediterranean" release was usid by the
fcgliaa, French, t^axons, and bwedes.
VllU auhjecl baa ncviT been treated ao thoroughly before. Mr. Morse dn-,
■a £reat cicdii for the cxamioaiion ot it.
I. liv AsnnEW McP.»Bi.AK Davis. Bulleiinof ihc-^Ffex Ic^Ululo
.. I»85,
• jnmes descrilwd by the author ot this pnnitih let, are as follows: "La.
le^ "platter or diee," "straw, or Indian carils,' "C'hunkcc or hook aud
890 THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN.
pole,'* *' spear and ring." Among the gnmrs of chance is one resembling our
game of '• button," a sort of guessing about what is in the hand.
The author has described these gHmes at considerable length, and has quoted
many authorities. The monograph shows very considerable research. The
subject is, however, by no means exhausted, as there are many games which
are not mentioned. It is pleasing to know that such subjects are gaining
attention. The Bulletins of the Essex Institute will be likely to be valued by
the archseologists, for the appearance of such valuable monographs.
American Oriental Society. — Proceedings at Boston, i/ay 1886.
Among the topics discussed were the following: Hebrew Military History, by
Gen'l H. B. Carrington. U. S. A. ; -A Greek Manuscript in the Philadelphia
Libihry, by Prof. I. H. Hall; this belongs to the 14th or l»')th century; Tfie
Identification of Ataris, at San, by Rev. W. C. Winslow; The Warrior Caste in
India, by Piof. E. W. Hopkins; Hindoo Eschatology, by Prof. W,D, Whitney;
The Naga Language of Assam, by Prof. John Avery ; A Sitcrificial Tablet from
Swpar, by Prof. D. G. Lyon; Recent Assyriological Publications, by ditto. Mr.
W. U Ward exhibited a few Cylinder Seals. Phoenician, Syrian, Babylonian
and Persian; also a few photographs of Hitito Scriptures; and Rev. T, P.
Hughes made remarks on the Religion of Islam.
Resolutions were passed commending the explorations of the "Egypt Fund.*'
*' The Medicine Man" or Indian and Esfamo Motions of Medicines. By Robert
Bm, M. D., L L. D. Reprinted from the Canada Medical and Surgical
Journal, March and April, 1886.
There are two ways in which the term "medicine," is used, — one being
equivalent to magic, and the other to physic. Both are described by Dr. Bell
in this interesting pamphlet.
Tlie author does not undertake to show up the impostures of the so-called
Indian doctors, so common in our cities, but he does show that the remedies
common among the Indians, are few, compared with the witcheries. There are
twenty classes of drugs among the Crees, nine of which are beneficial, and
the balance injurious. In surgery the "medicine men" resort to cupping by
means of sucking tubes. The sweat bath is in universal use. The plants used
for medicine are as follows: sweet flag, yellow pond lilly, spruce, balsam, and
willow bark, honeysuckle, juniper, dogwood, blue flag, pigeon cherry, moun-
tain ash, wild mint and snake-root. This is an interesting line of study. We
are grateful to Dr. Bell for making known his observations.
Legumn of the Land of Lakes, History, Traditions, and Mysteries. Illustrated.
By Geohge Frakcis. Chicago. G. F. (George Francis) Thomas, Publisher.
This pamphlet is too sensational to be reliable as a guide book, though it
is sold as such. The legends and traditions, which still linger among the
rocks and rivers of Wisconsin and the West, as an inheritance from the races
whi^li have passed away, should be collecte(l, but it should be done correctl}'.
The author is on the right track. By callinc: attention to the subject, he may
interest some one who will enter into it with conscientious truthfulness and
zeal.
Annals of Fort Mackinaw. By Dwigut II. Kelton, Captain U. S. Army.
Whitney Edition. 1885.
This excellent guidebook contains, first, the name; second, the history;
third, the description of the locahties, forts, buildings, etc. ; fourth the legends
still lingering in the island, and closes with a list of Indian and French geo-
graphical names. It is well illustrated, and convc3's a large amount of
valuable inforaation.
Ohjrcts of Iiihirst,frvm the Plains and R(.Kky M(»untainf(. By H. II. Tammex,
Denver, Col.
M. Elliot WiMMltrard,^, iScventy-Fiflh aitd Eiffhff/JStrond S<flff<, Archaohgy, War
lidics, (If.
Cataloirucs by dealers in arclKTologictil njlics. often contain information as
to the relics, whit Hare being sold, both at the east and the west. They arc
valuable especially when issued by reliable men like the above.
BOOK REVIEWS. 391
Ten Tears among the Indians at SkokomitJi, Washington Territory, By Rev.
Eells.
This book opens with a home-like picture of the Bkokomish Agcnc}* for a
frontispiece. There is a chapel, two private houses, nestling among trees on a
bank of a lake in the picture. This is the home of our fnend, Rev. M. Eells,
who is so well known to the readers of the Antiquarian. The book contains
a history of the mission, especially for the last ten years. It contains incidents
and descriptions of the Clallam Indians so far as they arc related to the mission
work. The book is illustrated by cuts representing the mat^ks. potlach houses,
^ravc houses of the Indian^und some portraits of converted, civilized young men.
It contains several Indian hymns in the Clallam language. The book is nicely
Erinted and forms an attractive and interesting volume for the Missionary
library.
A yaturalisVs Wanderings in i?ie Eastern Archipelago, a narrative of Travel and
and Explorations from 1878 to 18:3. By Henry O. Forbes, F. R. 0. S.
586 pages; New York; Harper and Brothers, Franklin Square; 1885.
This book, like all of Harpers Publications, is splendidly printed. It contains
three folded maps, and three sketch maps, several full pajge engravings, and
many wood cuts scattered through the body of the type. The following illus-
tratirms are noteworthy: — earthen waie pots in Java, houses in Sumatra,
specimens of the native writing, representation of the coatof arms, also of
monoliths and idols in Sumatra, scenes of tiger hunting, methods of dressing
hair in Timorlaut, engravings of earrings, combs, and belt buckles, the grave
of a native chief and idols found in the same country. Mr. Forbes is not only
a naturalist but an archceologist. His book contains a great varietv of useful
material, including descriptions of birds, plants and other native products, as
well as of races, and artificial inventions. Our readers will find much instruc-
tion from perusing this book. It brings the distant islands of Sumatra,
Java, and the Moluccas very near, and and is almost equal to taking a voyage
to them.
Salammbo of Oustave Flanbert, Englished by M. French Sheldon; Saxon &
Co., Fleet St. London, and Tribune Building, New York,
The author of this book was a son of a French surgeon. lie was forty-one
years of age when Salammbo made its appearance. It is a story of Carthage
during the time of Hahno and Hamilcar. The author had evidently made
himself familiar with the times before he wrote the book. No mere sensational
story writer could have written it. It is instructive and somewhat interesting.
The chapters at the beginning creak like an over burdened cart with the weight
of words descriptive of the Carthaginian antiquities, but the author gets under
way at last and the book becomes a French dilligence loaded with ancient
Carthaginian passeu£:ers. The style is well sustained. It is a style suitable
to a novel and yet superioF to that of most novels. For those who have not
the patience to read history such books become verj' instructive; they arc l)etter
than most history because they bring out the scenes more perfectly and present
the pictures ia detail. The translator has dedicated the volume to Henry A.
Stanley. The author is a Frenchman the publishers Englishmen, the .'subject
of the book is Carthage, the time is during that of the Roman Conciueat; the
book is therefore decidedly cosmopolitan; none the less interesting because of
the mingling of nationalities.
Legends of the Xorthicaft, by H. L. Gordon, St. Paul, Book and Stationery
Co. 1*^1.
The lcc:cuds of the native races narrated in the laniruaixe of modem poetry
do not always prove satisfactory; they are too inueli like old i):iintinL:sput into
new frames, old wine in new hollies. Longfellow was sucee>sful for he seemed
to drink in tlu3 spirit of the wild wood and expressed ilur feelin^rs of the
native story-tellers. Very few works can compare with the charming idyll
Hiawatha. There are inanv imitations. This book by Mr. (Jordon contains
mainly the legends of the l)akotas as follows: The Feast of the Vir^'iis, or a
story of Red Cloud and Wawaste, the "sweet faced daughter of Little Crow;"
893 THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN. .
Wixiona, written in hexainater verse; The Legend of the Falls, the best of tk
series; The Sea Gull, a legend of the pictureia rocks of Lake Superior. The
stories which were afloat on the frontiers when the white settlers came in. are
here perpetuated. The names and many of the myth?* arc embodied in then
pocmn, and so far, good. The style is cliaste, and for the most part truly poeti-
cal, and does not obscure the subject any more than all modem poetry would
be very likely to do. The only fault is that the thought and style and imagof
are not Indian, but Anglo Saxon, like setting native songs to modem mniie;
Plantation melodies are often attractive, but when musicians undertake to I
set them to music they prove failures; they become travseties. Persons ifk
arc learning French or German, may be said to have mastered the languap
when they dream in French. Mr. Gordon claims to have devoted many leinne
hours to the study of the language, history, traditions, customs, and supersti-
tions of the Dakotas, but he docs not dream in Dakota. Tiiis is our criticism,
and yet the book is one which we can heartily commend. It is attractlTt
beautifully printed, well illustrated, and certainly interesting, all except the
hexameter verse; that is too heavy for anything.
BOOKS RECEIVED.
Bihliolhcca Amnicaua, 188C. Catalogue of a valuable collection of Books
and Pamphlets relating to Amrrica. with a descriptive list of Robt. Clark &
Co's Historical Publications. Robt. Clarke tfc Co., Cincinnati.
Au/iah of ihe. Grand Loi}<je of loirt. Vol. X., Part II. ; 188G. P. S. Parvin,
Secrelauy. Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Traumclion^ of the Wi^conitin Academy of Scicncen, Art, and Zettirs. Vol. II.
ISSl-t^a. 3Ittdi8on, Wisconsin. Democrat Priming Co. ; 1886.
A^aifsas Uiittorkal ColleetioriA; Vol, III., 1883-84. Quarter Centennial Pro-
ceedings; 1880. Topeka Publishing House.
JSVif Jernt't/ Archirf,'^, Vol. X. Documents relating to the Colonial History of
the State, 1767-1776. Newark, N. J.; Daily Advertiser Printing House. 1886.
Kansas Historical Collections, Vol. Ill : 1881-84. Quarter Centennial Procedings.
Topeka: Kansas Publishing House. 1886.
Di'telopment of EnglisJi Literature and Language: by Alfred H. Welsh, A. M.
Vol. I, 506* pages; Vol. II, 560 pages. S. C. Griggs ct Co., Chicago. 1886.
An Account of the Pnygress of Anthropology, in the prarlS^ry, by Prop Otis T.
^Iason. From the Smithsopian Report for 18^0.
Vte lAf/endsofthe Paniah,hy Cttiit. R. C. Te.mpi.e, Bengal StalT Corps No,
27. March 1886. Vol. 'ill: Kducation t?ociety*s Pres.s. Bombay, 144
I
pages